Sharp County record., 1879-06-26
WoOI.grOwing on the Nueces,


I had proposed visiting the W.. ~
growing districts on the lower Nuee.
but finding that they are reached frS.
here (San Antonio) only by st,S,o
Journey of nearly hundred niss'U
across a country as barren of interes -
it is destitute of inhabitants, haver~,.
cluded to be content with secondb%
information. One-sixth of all the sbs@ Pc
in the State are owned in Nueces CAM nm
tv. The remarkable development srl
the Wool-growing industry in that Com ,is
ty is probably owing more to the nlthd
winter climate, and the facilities forGnat
shipment of wool by sea from Corn hs
Christi, than to any marked superonise
of the pasturage. No winter proteci3,oe
or fodder is provided for the Shea Nh the
though the experience of the past vSnb nh
ter shows that it would be prudent ,se
make some such provision. Many thm,
sand head died during the severe wesA sp
er, which began before the 1st of jan an
uarv. Some farmers lost half tbai ,ll
flocks. A small capital is sufficient trno
going into the wool business, and ab ri
fact makes it more attractive than I'M g.
cattle business to men of very modersp nd
means. Mexican ewes can h'
bought for 80 cents a head hna
Mexico, and driven across asH,
country for a small expense. A tho1,1rt|
SAND ewes and a few Merino bucks1h.
costing 825 each, constitute good fOcati
to begin with. No bland need be bougbtFa
but if the wool grower prefers to Owcar
his own pastures instead ofranging Oyeltu
the unfenc8d country, he can purchasof
az much land as he desires for 81 alto
acre. One Thousand dollars would be A
liberal estimate for house and q apentntft
protect the flock at night from tall
wolves. Two Mexican shepherds, cOg, d
ing 8l2 or $15 a month and their boarA rt
will ted the flock. Shearing costsire
cents a head, and as it is the custom n i
shear twice a wear, instead of once sn
in the Narth, this item of expense co
first year will be 500. The yield for
wool will average six pounds annuaE[r.
and when the breed is improved by ID sta
Merino cross it will increase to eig1Eil1
The cash return from the flock the fgng
wear will be 81, 1000, and the total a[ or
penses, not counting the cost of lives
for the owners family, will not be Oait
$500. This leaves fair profit Ongme
investment of about S2,OOO;7 and thands
must be added the increase of the fold
estimated at 70 per cent. after dedusrd
ing ordinary losses. 1t will be Sd ne
from these figures that the busineSBe wi
remarkably good one, as far as the Ears
enumeration is concerned. Its dtiEln
backs are the scab and the ScrF1md
worm. The scab is too taulHeas
to Northern farmers to need deScp gre
ton. 1t seems to be more preVaaI nd
and fatal here than in the North. INayl
screw-worm is the product of fly Tear
deposits its eggs in raw places on Ni,tor
cattle and sheep. If the eggs are life
lowed to hatch, the worms penetraBNe enc
the vitals of the animals and spaedi thi
kill them. The remedy is to wash a, al
raw places with carbolic ointmeh s,
The screw-worm is said to be as tah)the
to man as to beasts, and instances srs of
related of men being stung by the Hsncd
in their sleep, on some scratch " SC
wound, and dying in few days trNt hi
the ravages of the worm. anr
A comparison of cattle-raiSing anzinf
wool-growing in Southwestern Tezmth
would show that, in proportion to nBol
capital required, one industry is about du1
as profitable as the other. The fornaa'n $
involves a more isolated, active and aft a
venturOus existence than the latter, on fro
both are attractive to people who desNtive.
to get far away from cities and clVlHf'om
ton, and lead a free life in the oNout
air, in climate where snow is urof
known and frosts seldom come, sMhtl
who want at the same time to see thls T
means increase rapidly, SO as to maxi 70
return to the busy haunts OF mu oy
practicable and pleaSurable at some reg
ture day when they may tire OF 'Nne
companionship of focks and herds'-e
TeraS Letter 10 NeW York Tribune. i