The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-16
WOOL GROWING.

An Interesting Discussion In Tyler
COunty-FactS and Figures Showing the
Profits OF The BuSIneSS An Import.
mt MeetIng In NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ton for u National Sheep Exhibition
How Wealth has been Accumulated by
Washington County Farmers.
Wool growing is getting to be an i'm
portant branch Of industry in Tyler oun
ty, and the growers have an association
that holds regular meetings down
there after the style OF farmers
clubs, for the purpose Of hear
ing and discussing their respective expe-
riences in the care and remunerative
management of sheep. The proceedings
of the meeting held on the 9th inst. APP
pear in the last issue Of the Sistersville
Independent, and from the experiences dis
cussed w make the following extract:
selmon Wells-Said It might seem a lit
tie presumptuous in him to talk when he
had only II winters experiencein sheep
culture. But, however, would give his
experience. Last fall purchased in Wash.
ington county, Pa, l0l head Of ewes for
S334 10. Had some misgivings about
sheep-thought q sheep would eat as
much as IN OK. | paid especial attention
to the comparative difference in the
amount Of food consumed by an OK and q
sheep. divided my flock, putting all the
weaker mes in one flock and the stronger
ones in another. When the stormsof winter
came, l hurriedly fixed up my implement
house and into it | put the flock contain
ing the weaker sheep. This flock l gave
three forktuls OF clover hay morning and
night. Also one gallon Of bran mixed
with six ears Of shelled corn, each morn.
ing. This l continued until March, when
l gave them one quart Of bran and ten
ears Of shelled corn. The bran and corn
was eaten clean. The hay was eaten tol-
erably clean.
Had five yearling cattle, which I fed
myself. Gave the calves four forkfuls OF
hay morning and evening. In the even
ing, ifthere was no snow, gave them but
two forkfuls.
The other flock Of sheep l kept on the
hill in al orchard containing probably ten
acres Of ground. Put the sheep in the
orchard the first Of December; kept them
there until spring. Igave them what hay
| could conveniently carry in a hitch
strap night and morning, when there was
snow Oh the ground. On a warm day not
so much. They were without shelter all
winter. In the spring they did not look
quite so well as the flock that had shelter.
But in q month, after turning on grass,
they looked quite as well. The flock
stabbed, which we're the weaker n Q
yielded on an average five pounds OF
The other flock averaged five and one half
pounds.
The sheep that were stabbed were in
better order in the spring and eat less
than the other flock. / like sheep much
better than cattle.
Question What per cent did you make
on your sheep?
Answer-Sold wool for $3.50, have 90
lambs living, lost during the cold weather
otApril "a lambs.
Divided lambs into two tlocks. Have 81
lambs that will now average so lbs. The
remaining2S lambs will average about SO
lbs.
Have 70 lambs worth s. 90 each, but
would not take a 90 for them. My lambs
are not for sale. The remaining "a lambs
are worth according to the Pittsburgh
sheepmarket 81 50 each. Was offered loo
pei cent on my investment in June, and
would not take it.
Had "a cattle the last year. Fed them
US much as would feed 400 head of sheen.
Takes double the amounted feed to vim
ter 500 worth Of cattle, than will winter
500 worth OF sheep.
This is experience.
j.. w, LaZear: Feeds one half bran and
one half corn. Great advantage in feed.
ing bran with corn.
Q. Morris: Had crushed corn and cob
and fed It to sheep. Thought got some
from cob, bntthere was nothing gained by
feeding meal.
The second topic was taken up. The
best mode OF housing sheep in winter.
Opened by ]. W. Lazear: Believed in hay.
ing permanent buildings, with good roof
and dry ground. Opposed 10 tight build.
ings. There should be plenty Of ventila.
ton.
Jacob Hugus: Had kept sheep for fifteen
years. The longer | keep them the better
! like them. There is more money in
sheep for me than in cattle. Farms as lit
tie as possible
The discussion was participated in by
others.
The following topic was selected for dis.
cussion atthe next stated meeting The best
mode oiimprovingt the gradeo OF wool-to be
opened by Hon. W. l. Boteman,
As appropriate to this Tyler county dis.
cussion in regard to sheep, we may note
the fact that there was an interesting
meeting held at the Continental Hotel in
Philadelphia, on. Friday night last, in re.