Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-23
COMMISSIONS KEELERREW'S
REPORTS.
OiI-wheas-erass-sheep.

OiI-Wheat-Gra
BY the courtesy of Col. J. B.
Killebrew, Commissioner of Agri-
culture, Statistics and Mines, we
are in possession of handsome
volume in which are bound up to-
gether several of his reports which
have been made during the last two
years upon the material resources of
Tennessee. Besides some minor
matters, we have exhaustive reports
on the oil regions of Tennessee, on
wheat culture, sheep husbandry and
especially the learned and careful
report on "The grasses of Tennessee,
including cereals and forage plants.
All of these have already received
attention in this journal when they
made their first appearance, except
that on sheep husbandry, which
shall be the leading subject of the
present paper. For the others we
viii only say that they need only
one thing TO make them conducive
to an almost incalculable increase in
the productive resources of the
State, and that is an attentive perus-
al on the part of the men now en-
gagged in productive occupations
throughout the State, and an indus
trious application of the information
which they offer.
SHEEP HUSBANDRY.
This is the briefest of the reports
contained in the book, but we are
glad to learn that it contains only
the advanced sheets ola much larger
J work to be shortly published, based
/ upon the letters of many cores
pondents now engaged in sheep
culture. Short as it is, however, il
/ contains some invaluable instruc-
ton, especially that comprised in
/ two letters from Mr.. T. Crutchfield
of AmnicOla.
The broad principles maintained
| in the paper are that grade ewes are
the proper foundation for a flock
here as well as everywhere else anG
for all species of stock. The native
breeds prove by the very fact o
their existence in a given locality
prior to special arrangements fOl
crossing, that they are better ad
apted constitutionally to the peculiar
circumstances OF that locality thai
any other stock. II they were no
they would not be there, but, OF
the Darwinian principle of the sur
vival of the fittest, their place would
be occupied by animals better ad
apted to their surroundings. Taking
then healthy grade ewes as a basil
a Merino cross is recommended il
the first generation to improve tn,
wool and a COtsWOld in the-SecOnC
for the carcase; though for the up
land flOcks perhaps the SOuthdOwl
might be better. The localities re
commended are the mountain pas
lures of East Tennessee for a WOO
staple, the great central basin 70
united qualities of flesh and fieec
and the plateau slope of West Ten
nessee for mutton mainly.
Both Commissioner Killebrev
and his correspondent, Mr.. Crutch
field, believe that many million
might be added to the prOductiv
resources of the State by incOrpOrat
ing a judicious and intelligent shee
culture with our other agriculture
occupations and we believe that n
position can be more easily demon
strated. Practical demonstration i
the best ; the right way to prov
sheep breeding profitable is to bree,
them. y sentence at the c'Ose c
Mr.. Crutchfeld's letter must b
quoted. He says: 81 have sail
F nothing as to the dogs, which is tn
greatest obstacle of all to sue essfu
and profitable sheep raising" TIL
more we can get interested in shee
the fewer friends the dog viii
have" But the dog law is so knott,
Il subject in Tennessee t! at we % us
make that the subject of Il separat
| orticlo