The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-19
SHEEP RAISING.
WILL IT PAY OK TIE COAST? SOME Few
FACTS GATHERED winch ARE IMPORTANT.

There is, perhaps, no subject Of more
interest to the people on the coast and OF
the adjacent counties, than that Of sheep
raising Then ii that husbandry can be
made profitable why should not our peo-
pie engage largely in it and help develop
an inustry that will aid in building up
and sustaining this part of the country?
There are a few gentlemen in this section
who are raising sheep with profit, one of
whom, Col. w. *. Stewart, of Ocean
Springs, was in to see US last week, and
showed us some samples of wool taken
from improved breeds which he raises.
A four year OLD Meriuo buck yielded II
pounds Of wool; two two year old ewes,
pounds, each a One-year old buck lamb,
s pounds; a one year old eve, 6 pounds.
These are all pure FLOODED MeriuOs. He
sold the wool to Ulman's factory at Bay
St. Louis, for 3S cents per pound. The
wool from native sheep which he Sheared,
brought % cents per pound, making
difference of ID cents per pound in the
price. This wool was as fine as any we
ever examined. but we prefer TO give the
Judgment OF our old friend Col A. +.
Lewis, of West Pascagoula, to ours He
Is an old sheep raiser and a very success
full one. too, and what he says can be
relied upon as coming from one who
knows what he says. The following is
Col. Lewis letter to Col. Stewart, which,
however, was not written for publication,
but we take the liberty of presenting it !:
WEST PAsCAGoULA, May II, 1873.
COL ~ H. Sterart:
My DEAR SIR-N ours of the 18th uIt
containing samples of wool was received
weeks ago. Ny excuse for my seeming
neglect in not answering earlier was that
| wanted to return your appreciated favor
in sending me the samples of your superior
Merino wool which, belieEe, is as pure as
wool can be made to grow The sample
from your flur-year old buck giving the
IL pounds wool at this years clipping looks
rs though nothing finer could be produced !:
Vct-whcn compared with the 5 lbs onc-vear
old Tennessee Maids wool, under the grass
Mr. II lbs buck must stand aside. not only
in the fineuess OF the wool but in the silky
compactuCSs ofteS tire, and certainly more
free OF hardened yolk than any | have ever
seen. ] subjected all the samples sent me
IL microscopic operation and must say that
they proved the production of pure-blood
stock. The unmistable mar hs Of the black
gum on tip ends, the bun tinge, soft oil
VoIk. thetrXture OF the Wocl-essential evil
UcuceS Of pure hIeed--are all found in them
Having just closed my spring shearing
operations and having breathing time
send YOU samples of my wool. to-wit:
Fjr~t-Dick Peters. pure-blooded Merino
ram, from Peters yeo. cut 10 lbs wool. COM
pares equal in iber 10 your four-year Old
buck. but not SO marked with buif-tinged
vOlk caused by exposure to winter rains.
summer storms and rough treatment and
not fed at all.
Second Half grade two-year old buck
cut 914 lbs, just perceptible difference in
fiber to tul breed and gives longer wool
Third-One quarter grade Merins wether
two year old, cut lbs, and a very Slight
difference in fiber to second grade but much
longer woOl--certainly the best sheep of
the three or carcasS-the perfect sheep for
the batcher'S stall not to be sighted for his
fleece.
Now let me congratulate you on your
perseverance and more than apparent sue
cess in changing the old OK wagon system
of raising sheep on this gulf coast. Al
ready. you have taught NE lesson in keep
ing and packing Your MerinO wool sepa-
rate from common and selling il for double
price and justly. too. | heretofore mixed,
pel NELL my Merino wool with common in
hacking and never claimed more pay il.
You have practically demonstrated by
Your system that you made more money
on your 80 Meriuo sheep than your neigh
Dor on 400 scrubs, and that with less care
and expense in feed. 1t is OElr by cCm-
pairing notes and exchanging practical re-
suits OF operations as you have done, that
the wool growers of the seashoTe can ever
understand practical sheep huS bandry.
That practical gentleman, Mr.. Uman, Of
Bay st. Louis, who knows not the word
fail, is now fitting up his factory for the
manufacture of wooden goods which will |
give quite stimulus to the wool raising
business so long neglected. Not only will |
more sheep be raised but the quality of |
wool will be improved by the Introduction |
of bIoOded stock, thus increasing to consid- |
cradle extent one OF the greatest resources |
OF the State. Our gulf coast must prove the
home of factories the location com bine not |
only all the essentials required in materials |
for successful operatives, which can be |
conveyed directly from the shearing tables |
and cotton fields to the picking rooms of the |
factories. and there directly by rail or sea
to every market OF the world but furnishes /
also that balmy, luxurious climate, not to /
be found in any other part OF the State |
Instead Of going to Texas, from whence I
many would return, il they could, let us /
raise sheep and help build up our seacost |
and our only emulation be as who will /
raise more sheep and wool on more care |
and labor. Truly yours,
A. Il. LEWIS.