The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-06-06

had proposed visiting the wool
growing districts on the lower Nueces.
but finding that they are reached from
here (San Antonio) only BY 4 stage
journey Of nearly . hundred miles,
across Z country IS barren Of interest a
Il il destitute Of inhabitants, have con-
cluded to be content with second hand
information. One-sixth Of all the sheen
in the State are owned in Nueces Coun-
". The remarkable development OF
the wool growing industry Ia that coun
" IL probably owing moro TO the mild
winter climate. and the facilities for the
shipment Of wool by sea from Corpus
Christi, than 70 any marked superiority
OF the pasturage. No winter protection
or fodder II provided for the sheen.
though the experience Of the past win
ter shows that il would be prudent 10
make some such provision. Many thou
sand head died during the severe wealth
or, which began before the lst OF JAM
uary. Some farmers lost half their
nocks. A small capital Is sufficient for
going into the wool business, and this
fact makes it more attractive thar the
cattle business 10 men Of very moderate
means. Mexican ewes can Le
bought for so cents . head IA
Mexico, and driven across tie
country for a sms Il expense. A thou
sand ewes and . few Mer.no bucks.
costing S25 each. constitute q good flock
to begin with. No land need be bought,
but il the wool grower prefers to own
his own pastures instead Of ranging over
the unfenced country, he can purchase
as much land as he desires for 81 IN
acre. One thousand dollars would bea
liberal estimate for house and a pen to
protect the flock 1t night from the
wolves. Two Mexican shepherds, cost
ing SIP or Sl5 month and their board.
will teld the flock. Shearing costs 5
cents head, and IS it Is the custom 10
Shear twice wear, instead of once as
in the North. this item Of expense tie
first year will be 500. The yield II
wool will average six pounds annually,
and when the breed is improved BY the
Merino cross il will increase 10 eight.
The cash return from the flock the first
year will be $1,000, and the total ex-
penses, not counting the cost Of living
for the owners family. will not be oser
$50 This leaves a fair profit on an
Of about 5000; AM there
must be added the increase Of the flock,
estimated At IS per cent. after deduct
ing ordinary losses II viii be seen
from these figures that the business is 3
good one. as far as the re-
Il concerned. It's draw
backs are the scab and the screw
worm. The scab is too familiar
TO Northern farmers to need descrip-
ton. II seems to be more prevalent
aud fatal here than In the North. The
II The product Of fly that
deposits its eggs In raw places on both
cattle and sheep. II the eggs are al
lowed to hatch, the worms penetrate to
the vitals Of the animals and speedily
kill them. The remedy Is TO wash all
raw places with csrbolic ointment.
The screw-worm is said to be as fatal
10 man As to beasts, and instances are
related Of men being stung ~ the ny
in their sleep. on some scratch or
wound, and dying in few days from
he ravages Of the worm.
A comparison Of cattle-raising and
wool growing in Southwestern Texas
would show that in proportion 10 the
capital required, one Industry is about
IS profitable as the other. The former
involves more isolated, active and ad-
rerturors existence than the latter, but
both are attractive TO people who desire
% get far away from cities and civiliza-
ion, and lead a free life in the open
mir, in climate where snow Is I'M
Known and frosts seldom come, and
who want at the same time to see their
means increase rapidly, so IS to make
! return 70 the busy haunts Of men
and pleasurable IT some fu-
ure day when they may tire Of the
,omp anionship Of fiocks and herds
Tsras Letter 10 Nev York Tribune