The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-07-05
TEXAS-SHEEP-R RAISING IN THE
SOUTHWEST.
From tie Haqersto,en OH Mail.

We have enjoyed pleasant interview with Mr..
Walter Negley, sheep grower of Texas, who is
now in Hagerstown on visit at his father Mr..
Peter Negley, and his brother, Mr.. Charles Negley
both of the Herald. From Mr.. Negley we have
gathered II great deal of interesting information,
and much of it will doubtless be of interest to the
readers of the Mail. Mr. Negley and his brother
William, left here about four years Mk0,eto try
their fortunes in the great State of Texas. They
are now living a hundred and thirty miles south
west from San Antonio and twenty miles from
Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande. Eagle Pass is
their county seat and nearest post office. The
country around them is n rolling prairie, with
timber, Live Oak and Pecan, along the streams.
The Pecan tree, upon which the nuts we are so
familiar with grow, is something like the walnut
tree, but grows larger.
There are not many streams and water is OBJ
tanned generally from ponds, which fill when it
rains and retain the water like cisterns.
The country is covered with different varieties
of mesquite, a short bunch grass which is exceed
ingly nutritious and sustains the sheep WELL even
when dry in winter or from the long droughts of
summer. Rains infrequent, and for this
reason crops are too uncertain to be relied on,
although some farming is done. The soil is mostly
lime stone, and that of the bottoms along the
streams, is black and rich.
THE CLIMATE
is pleasant. While the summer days are hot
there is generally Il breeze, and the nights are
cool. The winters are very mild. Mr.. Negley
says he has seen snow but once in four winters
and that was last Christmas Snow fell then but
melted directly. The ground never freezes
although thin skim of ice will occasionally form
in ponds. This part of the State is not subject to
severe "northers' or cold north winds which pre-
vail in the eastern part.
SHEEP RAISING
is almost the only industry of this section of the
State. The population consists almost entirely of
men, and as the pasturage will not support very
many sheep, ranches have to be large and the
country is sparcely settled. There are here and
there settlements of Germans and Alsacians, who
make good crops and are thriving people. An Or
binary "stock" of sheep numbers about five thous-
and, and some are so large as ten thousand or
even larger. These are divided into fockS of
about twelve hundred each, and each flock is I'M
der the constant care of a shepherd. The bucks
are kept in a separate flock and have n shepherd.
The object in view in thus separating them is APP
parent, for in this way the lambs can be made to
come at the most desirable season. which in Texas,
is the month of March.
HOW ITS PAYS.
Every effort is now made by growers to improve
the breeds. The best wool growing breeds are of
course selected, us mutton is of secondary cOnsid-
Grafton. The Marines are the favorites and the
best stocks will average yield of seven pounds
of wool to the sheep. This year wool sold at from
II to 81 cents in San Antonio, and the cost fget
ting it there from Mr.. Negley's neighborhOod is
about 80 cents per hundred pounds.
When a ranchman clips his wool in spring or
fall he goes 10 San Antonio and sells it to an
eastern buyer, who there balls and ships.
The lambs are not sold. Wethers, when they
get to be five years old, begin to fall back as wool
growers. They are then fattened and sold for
mutton, and are worth about 81 each. Old ewes
are sold off too, either to new beginners in the
business mutton Mr.. Negley estimates the
cost of maintaining each sheep at fifty cents
year. 1t will be seen from the figures we have
given that it is profitable business.
HOW SHEEP ARE MANAGED.
As stated the sheep are divided in hocks of
about twelve hundred The shepherd takes them
off for good pasture and has pen or corral" to
put them in at night. The shepherd himself lives
in hut under piece of canvas. Huts are
often made by planting number of saplings,
tying them together at the top and weaving grass
in the sides. Very little protection is required, as
there is little rain and no cold weather. The pro
prietor exercises constant supervision over the
shepherds of the different hocks, riding from one
to another. As soon as the pasturage begins to
fail he removes the flock to another range. In the
winter the sheep are pastured along the streams
so that they may avail themselves of the shelter
of the underground and feed on the prickly cactus
which is more abundant in those places. This
with the dry grass, is all the food they have, as
they are never fed. The cactus makes excellent
food. plant is cut and sashed with knife by
the shepherd so that the sheep can get at it. 1t
is not necessary even to give the sheep salt, as
there are abundant saline grasses through the
whole country.
THE SHEPHERDS
are generally Mexicans The wages paid them
are SO and So month and rations. The ra-
tons consist of bushel of corn meal three
pounds of coffee, three pounds of sugar and three
goats or two wethers amonth. They are provided
with utensils and do their own cooking
Mr. Negley says he has always found them to
be honest and reliable men. They cannot speak
English but use dialect of the Spanish Ian
guage.
THE VALUE OF LANDS
for grazing is very little. Farming land is worth
from 81 to So per acre, and grazing lands seldom
bring more than 80 cents per acre.
In conclusion, Mr.. Negley remarks that it is an
erroneous impression that prevails, as to the
danger of living in Tnxas. He says that he con-
siders his life and property as safe there as in
Washington county. The people of his commu-
nifty are just much disposed to be peaceable and
friendly as in any other state. His only loss of
property in four years residence has been one
horse.