The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-10-31
shssp-Kss,ine in Kansas.


tains; anu we only read of the 'focks
on the hillside" Twenty years ago
continued storms were unknown here,
and we had only brisk showers. follow
ed at once by sunshine. The increase
of the white man and the late influx Of
the cloudy black, has scemingly-un-
der God-not only changed politics,
but the seasons. Showers are row
more frequent and a week Of rain not
unusual: aud there have been times
" ben Tor month rain has haLdiy
ceased AT this rate Of progress the
day is not distant when the plains west
.. us will "b!ossom as the rose" re-
c-ising the rain, in their season, and
not the unnatural irrigation OF man.
The "droulh OF Gu is broken, but we
cave no fears that the raius wall be 50
abundant as to curtail the sheep in
lustry. Our winters are about five
months long, during which more or
less dry food is required. In April the
sheep are turned upon the prairies,
tiie succulent grasses OF which soon
inspire animal lite with new vitality.
These prairies or out-lands are owned
oy railroads or non-residcuis, and VIII
,nord Tree range for stock Tor yeare
10 come. In this we glory, aud Kan
,as is ahead. The pastoral regions VI
Colorado aud California are now own
"a and controlled by cattle kings aud
oig shepherds with their one hundred
thousand sheep, and the masses have
40 rights upon their range. Here the |
lion lies down with the lamb and all
men are equal i'll their rights over the
public domain.
The sheep are kept on this grass UNI
Ill frost, which comes in October,
when they are taken 10 the farm aud |
tulned upon the rye, bluegrass or
clover fields, where they will thrive |
as long as snow does not cover it. Ii
nc such winter pasture is at hand, the
sheep will require, lii addition to
what they CLEAN from the frost-bittcn
prairie, daily feed of corn-iodder or
good hay, to be increased as the wea-
Their grows colder. The lambs and
breeding ewes should also have daily |
ration of grain, say an ear of corn or
its equivalent per head. This will
keep them strong and growing. The |
wethers. ifintended for mutton, should |
have no less than a pint of corn per
day, with plenty of fodder and hay.
We crush our corn in the ear, and are
very partial 10 cob-meal for sheep.
But the manner and method of feed
ing, on which, indeed, the whole sue
GERS Of feeding hinges, must be left for
some future discussion. AS to shell
tcrs, common sense says build them.
No part of the temperate zone Is SO
serene that inclemencies do not occur,
igainstwhich animals need protection.
The warmer they are kept tnot to the
xciusion of fresh air. the less food
hey require. Protection is economy
xposure is waste. Rude sheilsrs can
ne che apply and quickly constructed OF
arks and poles, covered with hay and
eff open to ihe south. Inclose these
aiih picket fence, and your sheep
IRE happy and comfortable, and safe
rom the incursions OF dogs and
wolves.
An kinds of sheep thrive here, but
tire finer thorough-b varieties OF
Cot,wold. Southdown, Merino, etc,
IRE in the hands OF few, aud are kept
tor breeding purposes. Such tiock
represents much capital, aud requires
much subsequent care, especially the
.ombing woods. They are only suited
to small tlocks, attended with great
| care, stabiing and high feed to keep
them up to the standard. The iine
woods are more hardy and sel;-reliani
hut The wool product, under present
regulations, does not b ing the best
produce the most mutton. The ques-
| ton is, what sheep are best adapted
to the wants aud ability Of the mass
es Ii is the common coarse or me-
dium wool sheep Missouri sheep"
| Cross these for two generations with
he thoroughbred Merino, then throw
in A cross of Co.swold, aud you have
sheep p' oducing good clip of a dc
-irable quality, and "a carcass big and
well rounded for mutton Such sheep
can be found for from one dollar and
fifty cents TO three dollars per head
anc an acre of ground-well stocked
win support eight or ten of them. For
medium, uuwashed wool, for three
wears past, we have received at orr
door, respectively, twenty-five cents,
twenty-four cents, and twenty-thrcc
cents per pc und. This makes alb )ut
one dollar per head, or sufficient 10
pay the running expenses of the flock.
leaving the increase and growth to
the side Of profit. AS to location we
prefer Northern Kansas her general
fertility, heaithful climate aud abund-
ant markets render the peer of all
others.
Bnt the pilgrim mus. select his own |
home. tnimproved land is held fro IN |
three TO ten dollars per acre; and i'm
proved at eight dollars and upwards,
according to The extent and value of |
he improvements. was bred upon
the historic ground Of Monmouth,
New Jersey, ministered for years as a |
ply stefan TO the inyahds of Burling-
ron county, both oasis in that vas; eX
pause of sand; but their palatial
homes and finished iiclds, after these
many wears OF ab-eHse. have no power
80 draw me homexard, nor anf magic |
compared with the simple cot ot t,e