The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-15

production OF gram, potatoes roots anu
clover. Heavy sheep that have become
quite fat cannot be keptin good condition
Il they are obliged to travel long distances
in search Of food. They are accordingly
kept on improved farms where they haYe
the advantages Of rich pastures and an
abundance Of gram and roots. In Great
Britain, where more attention is given to
the production OF mutton than in any
other portion OF the world, sheep are pss-
tured on rich land and are pRstured on
clover and turnips. Merino sheep, how.
ever, which are kept for the wool they
produce, are pastured or land that is not
adapted to general agricultural purposes.
Until quite recently very little attention
has been given in this country TO raising
sheep for mutton. Wool has been the pr
mary object in keeping sheep. As a con.
SEQUENCE merinos and their crosses have
generally been kept. Some Of the early
lambs have been sold to butchers, and q
part OF the wethers fattened when they
have attained their growth. Still the pro-
duction ofmeat has hardly been taken into
consideration in the keeping of sheep on
most farms. In some parts OF the country
the production of mutton has received al.
most no attention. Wool has been the
entire object in raising sheep. Those Of
both sexes have been kept till they die Of
disease or old age, and no attempt has
been made to realize money from the desh
they produce. In Texas, Colorado, New
Mexico and California sheep have been
kept on poor land. The business was IN.
dertakei by the SpaniardS long before the
Americans obtained possession OF the
country, and has been continued by the
latter since that time. In those parts OF the
country the practice OF keeping sheep has
been followed with excellent results.
In most OF the other portions OF the
country sheep raised for the purpose oil
obtaining wool have been kept on high
lpriced land. An examination OF the tables
of the last census report shows that the
largest number OF sheep Is kept in coun-
tries where the land Is the most valuable
and best adapted TO general agriculture,
and that the smallest number ID returned
from those countries where the land 10
cheap and poorly adapted to the produc-
ton Of the leading crops OF the country.
A large proportion OF the farmers in North
ern Illinois and in Southern Michigan and
Wisconsin are engaged to 8 greater or less
extent in keeping sheep. In all these
places the land Is very valuable and well
adapted 10 the production OF fruit, corn,
tobacco, potatoes, and all the email grains.
IN The best portions Of Kentucky, In CEN
trail New York, and in the richest districts
Of Vermontand Maine large aocks Of sheep
are also kept. The like is substantially
true Of Canada; the better the pastures OF
the country the more numerous are the
sheep kept for wool.
On the poorer land Of all the older sec-
tons Of the country, however, very lew
sheep are kept; they are rarely found in
the billy regions Of southern Illinois, or
in the mountain portions OF Missouri,
Kentucky, or West Virginia. The entire
mountain region OF Arkansas is remarka-
bly, we'll adapted to the raising Of sheep,
being well supplied with grass, pure water
and trees for protection. Still many OF
the inhabitants Of that State never tasted
mutton, aud never saw a live sheep. A
very large proportion ot.the land in all the
Southern States is admirably adapted to
sheep husbandry, and ia OF comparatively
little value for anything else: the soil is
thin, rocky and broken, and can be plowed
and cultivated only with extreme difficult.
ty. It is capable, however, OF producing
q considerable amount OF grass and other
kinds OF forage that are readily eaten by
sheep. The climate is admirable and the
water supply abundant; these lands may
be purchased at a very low price, or rent.
ed for the amount OF the annual taxes.
They contain sufficient timber to supply
material for building folds and sheds for
the protection OF sheep.
In most OF the northern States there are
large quantities OF land not adapted to
general cultivation that might be utilized
10 most excellent advantage in raising
sheep. Some Of it is high, rocky, and
broken, and some Of it SO low that itonly
produces coarse grass. The portions first
named would afford p%asturage, and the
latter. would supply all the hay necessary
to keep the slock over winter. Land Is not
Impoverished, but is improved, by keep.
ing sheep upon it. The manure they
make Is rich, and is scattered over the sur.
face OF the soil. Sheep keep weeds aud
bushes in subsection, and thereby render
it easy TO introduce more desirable kinds
Of vegetation. 1t is always easy to intro.
duce white clover, blue grass, and red top
on lard that is pastuTed by sheep by
simply scattering the seed on the sod.
The small breeds OF sheep, like the meri-
nos, are beat adapted to land that does not
produce a very abundant crop OF vegeta.
ton, as they are able TO travel further in
search OF substance 10 eat Mutton sheep
do not thrive well on these lands, IS it IT,
quires too much exertion TO obtain food
enough TO keep them in good condition.
At frat thought it seems exceedingly
angular the lands above spoken OF were
not years ago devoted 10 the raising Of
sheep. But a variety Of causes prevented
their being given up 10 such u purpose.
They arc generally owned By spectators
who have no inclination to occupy them
themselves or 10 improve them 30 that
they may be leased 10 others. Persons
who rent land generally prefer farms that
are supplied with buildings and which are
adapted to a variety OF annual crops
procuring a sufficient number OF sheep to
make 1t an object TO devote their entire
time to their care. Comparatively few
tenant farmers have sufficient capital TO
support their families during the period
between one shesring time and the sue.
ceeding one. The kinds Of land that have
been described are generally infested by
wild animals that are fond Of mutton. The
settlers in the vicinity OF These lands gen.
orally keep a large number OF dogs that
"hGve no visible means Of support" but
which appropriate living or dead food
wherever they find 1t. Concert OF action
Is necessary TO exterminate wild animals,
and stringent laws are required to enable
the owners Of sheep to protect them from
worthless curs.
s. q. IKwrS, OF Ute Creek, Coliax Co.,
New Mexico, says: "My wife has been
cured Of q cough OF thirty years standing
BY wearing IN Only Lung Pad,'"-Se
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