The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-03
AGRICULTURE.


lustration of the rapidlty with which
sheep husbandry Is advancing In Texas
Sheep Husbandry IN the Sonh says that
during the year 1866 San Antonio raised
but 100000 pounds Of wool In 1877
the amount received was 100000
pounds. This year there will be ship
ped $500, 900 pounds. John l.. Hayes,
in an address before the National Con-
gress at New Haven, CT, touching up
on tho subject of extended wool-raisiug
in Texas, said that with its nearly
1000, 900 head of sheep, only two coun-
ties (Nueces and Starr) are occupied,
and there are 80 1000, 900 of land still un-
located. If two acres are required for
one sheep-the usual estimates and
ouly half the land is fitted for sheep
culture, there are still enough unoccu-
pied lands to support 20,OO0,000. In
Texas Is found climate SO mild that
sheep will thrive with almost no sheltcr
at all. Pasturage is afforded through
out tue whole year by the indigenous,
perennial mesquite grasses. Emigra-
tion and sheep arc pouring in from the
Northern States and from California
and skilled shepherds are included
from Europe and even Australia. The
wool-growers Of Western Texas are be-
coming well versed in the matter of
handling their tlocks on the range and
the tleeces at shearing time. They are
also bcstowing more attention on the
character Of the breed. Good sheep
are in demand. Graded flock in which
the merinO Is crossed with the Mexican
sheep Of the ChOurro race are frequent.
This race is distinguished for its robust
temperament, the facility with which
1t is nourishcd, its resistance to hunger
and storms, and the rapidity with
which Its ewes being crossed with pure
merinos improves the stock. a plea
for long woods In place Of fine woods
has recently been made in the San An
tonic Enpress, which says Of the long
woods, "Thcy are harder, better feed
ers, and being greater in size can travel
with less fatigue; they are also more
prolific and better mothers and their
lambs are stronger. The cost Of herd
ing the long woods is much less than
for the merino, as usually 1000 to 3, 900
1ong-wool sheep are easily hcrdcd by
one man.
PLANTING GRApE-N INES. One would
suppose That so simple II thing as plant
.ng Il grapevine would not need writ
ing about, and yet the number Of peo-
pie inquiring "l1ow shall we plant ?"
is so great that a few words to these in
Huircrs may well be pardoned by those
who think they already know enough
about the matter. The rule is to plant
The roots shallow. If they are long
when we have to transplant them, in
stead Of setting them deep we lay them
along about four or five inches beneath
the surface. It Is of course very nee
essary to press the soil very hard and
firm over the roots that Is, If the earth
Is tOlerably dry, though In truth no
vine should be planted except the earth
Is In this good condition. 1t Is very
nsetul IN planting Il grapevine to cut
1t closely in. Unless the last years
growth be very vigorous 1t may be al
most all cut away. This Is the way to
get good strong cane for hearing next
year, which Is the most that one ought
TO expect Il vine TO do. "Immcdiate
hearing" Is Il delusion and snare.
Many a person spends dollar or II half
dollar extra on vine which he Is told
by the seller twill bear this year."
when for that amount of money he
could buy treble the quantity Of grapes
IT. Will bear for him, even II 1t bears for
him ut all. Still we like to plant good
strong healthy grapes. The little crow
uutlls which come out as rare grapes
ht high prices, seldom give much salts
faction. Indeed, IL IS more than likely
that the immense failures which gen
orally follow all these 'introductlons
are as much owing to the way their
propagation Is forced ,as to any inherent
inability In the varieties to become
adapted To soils and climates.
SCRorULA IN CowS.--In the advanced
state of this disease, treatment of any
Kind will be entirely useless. The di-
sease like consumption In man, Is in
variably fatal. But its most serious
feature IS the considerable period that
often clapscs before the result il reach
ed, and during which the animal be-
- comes less valuable. Milk flom such II
COW is apt TO produce phthisiS or con-
sumption In man; and It would be sui
ridal to consume 1t, knowing 1t to come
from such an animal.
,NG.-'rrim moderately every
year, but not heavily oftener than once
In three years. Pruning may now be
done at any time when the days is
warm cut OIL no limbs that are over an
Inch In diameter. If you do not under
stand pruning yourself hire it done by
c)mpetcnt person, but do not send ali
ignorant hired man into your orchard
to cut and hew at will.