The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-04-12
SHEEP HUSBANDRY.
important to Sheep Raisers in this Section
Questions and answers, Etc.

-
AS sheep raising is an important
and profitable business in this coun.
try, we publish this for the general
information, not only of our own
people, but of those at distance
who may wish to know something
OF the advantages our country pos.
sesses in this particular business.
Col. Lewis is largely interested in
sheep raising, has had many years
experience in the business, and is
perhaps the best informed man in
this county upon this subject:
QUESTIONS.
q. What proportion of the entire
surface of your country, excluding
only the area actually cultivated.
yields wild grasses furnishing
suitable pasturage for sheep. A.
Two thirds, exclusive of 'water
courses and low swamps.
q. How many sheep, upon an
average, would 100 acres of this
wild pasturage support in the sum.
mer, according TO your observation
and best judgment. A. Seven.
q. How many would 100 acres
support in winter? A. The same,
seven. The wild pasturage will
support as many sheep in winter as
1t will in the summer. Flies are
bad here in the summer, hence the
drawback.
q How many months in winter
Is extra forage or pasturage re-
quiredi a. Two months, if fed at
all.
@. What provision, if any, is
now made for winter-keep of sheepY
A. None, sheep take care of them.
selves.
@. What wild grasses-common
as well as botanical names-are
most abundant in your county!
a. Wire grass and fiat weeds, of
which do not know the names.
q. What is the average weight
OF fleece in annual shearing? In
semi annual, when practiced A.
Not practiced. Three pounds un-
washed wool in annual shearing.
q. What is the average local
value OF tleeces per pound at the
present timeF A. Twenty-eight
cents {uuwashed wooD.
q. What facts can you give con
corning individual flocks, showing
cost of Keeping, and profit7 A.
About 25c per head under the
present loose system; soc per
head would be required if under a
strict system.
@. How many lambs are an
lually produced from each 100
'wess How many of these are lost
" diSowning, exposure, or other
auses? A. so lambs, fully one
bird.
@. How many OF each 100 sheep
exclusive Of lambs) are lost an
ually by disease, theft, dogs, and
'olves, or other causes! e! And how
lany of these by dogs2 a. 20
'er cent, Of which half by dogs.
REMARKS.
There are some 100000 acres of
and in this county, Jackson,
ielding tolerably good wild grasses
Or raising sheep. No tame grasses
re propagated or cultivated for
heep. Very little attention is paid
D the sheep raising business; vet, |
now of no business that would pay
well if the proper attention was
lren to it, Sheep here run at
lrge on public and private un-
'nced lands. They are herded
p in the spring, when the grown
leep are sheared and the lambs
acCompliShes more
IAN half the care for the year. No
lepherds or shepherd dogs are
-pt. Occasionally some vicious
ogs are killed and a few fox and
lid cat drives take place. We
ave no system about the matter.
is, who will or can raise more
leep on less trouble.
Our lands here, though thin, will
'oduce fine grasses. Bermuda
'ass, the standard grass of the
Duth, does not yet receive the at
ntion it deserves. people are
ow in changing old, easy customs,
1T are now waking up to the i'm
lrtance of grass culture and, |
,lieve, will, ere long, turn the
many-broom sedge
I'd bryar fields into paying pas
Irages for stock.
We much need here a law for the
'strnction of dogs, the greatest
'awhack to sheep raising. AS
ere are more dog raisers than
eep raisers, the majority must
lie and our legislators are gov
ned accordingly. My experience
to tue breed of sheep most suit
lie to the guilt coast, finds the
md grade Mcrino, produced by
e cross of tine pure Merino buck
our native scrubs decidedly the
st. 1t is not only great i'm
,vement in the finish aud weight
the fleece, but on the carcass, and
kes a finer mutton.
pay taxes on 2,000 sheep, run
g and pasturing on the wild
sses, and half wild themselves.
iew hundred acres of old fields in
rmuda would soon double the
nber of my sheep. Am setting
grasses now; will let You know