The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-17
- NV IN,
Auditor Public Account
Monroe as a sheep County.
ABERDEEN, Miss, June 81, 1S7

ABERDEEN, Miss, June 81, 1873.
To Maj f. g. Wall:
DEAR SIR-In accordance with my prom =
Use to Maj. 5. A. Jonas, of the Examiner, /
send you u few lines on the subject OF sheep
raising in this part of Mississippi. There
are hundreds of thousands of acres of land in
this part of the State that are well adapted
to the raising OF sheep, These lands are
more or less rolling, well watered, and COW
cred with grass and species of clover, that
sheep do well on. | know of some tlOckS of
sheep in this section that get their living
the year round without any care whatever,
except sailing occasionally. An old lady
that lives in the lower part of the city, has
about eighty head Of sheep, they get their
living in the outskirts of the city and keep
in good condition the year round. L have
seen this particular flock of sheep, as often
as ouce week for the last three years, and
know they have lived without being fed
anything except salt, and little cotton
seed in the winter.
For the last six years have kept from
fifty to four hundred head of sheep Some
winters L have fed little, where l have
kept large lot together. But in small
flocks, they will do well, with what they
can pick, where they can have the range of
the plantation in the winter. Ny sheep
have been free from diseases, and | have
never heard of the foOL-rot or scab among
any of the sheep in this county. So far as
nv observation and experience goes,
think this one of the best locations for stock
raising, especially sheep, that can be found
in the United States. Ii person desires
TO 90 into the business Oh a large scale, here
is his chance. Lands are cheap, locations
good, with plenty of feed the year round,
mild climate, and not far from a railroad.
The Bermuda grass makes the best kind of
a summer pasture, and by sowing blue grass
with the Bermuda, that makes a splendid
winter pasture on the same piece of land.
have tried it and find that the two grass
es grow well together. One great advan-
tage this section has, we can have our lambs
come in December, then if We wish to mar
ket them, they will be ready by the next
April for the Northern market, where they
will bring from S. to 81 per head.
commenced with the common sheep,
which would shear about q pounds per
head. | have used the Leicester bucks and
the first cross has increased the fleece 20 512
TO pounds per head, and no more expense
for feed. l can raise a pound of wool
cheaper than l can raise pound of cotton,
see by report that in the ten States that
raise cotton it costs from cents to 10 cents
per pound to raise it, (about all that it will
bring in market.) Now assuming that it
costs the same to produce pound of wool,
the wool at the figures costs less 20 produce
than the cotton. By reference to the wool
market reports, for the last three years, it
will be seen that wool has ranged in price
from 10 cents to IS cents per pound. But
common grades, such as we raise here, free
from burs and unwashed, have sold from
twenty five to thirty five cents. In my
neighborhood are kept tho Leicester, Cots
Wold Southdown and the Merino sheep, all
OF them do well. l prefer the Leicester,
they are large sheep, ewes good mothers,
often produce two lambs, the lambs mature
early, they make good mutton. and are
hardy. The Leicester shear a good fleece,
not quite as fine as the Cotswold but brings
about the same price in market.
Much more might be said in favor of this
county for stock raising, bus have already
spun this communication out longer than l
intended when | commenced, so | will quit
Yours truly,
6 NJ IOuNSTON