American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-17

soil will give abundance of food eX
cept two Mouths in the year, when
we only require the red 0at or rye.
which can be cut IN June, and
makes a better crop than If there
had been no sheep or calves on the
field thus planted, Any variety of
clover does we'll here. Alfalfa is at
home here; soils well and pastures
we'll
There is no farm animal that with
attention (and that they must have)
will do more tor a worn country than
sheep. So we'll known is this fac,
to men i'll worn countries that their
tread is known as Il golden walk
1t is so, inasmuch as paying we'll for
the care bestowed upon them, they
constantly enrich the soil on which
they Craze, besides this they pay
twice, once in fleece and once III car
caSs. This is Il truism-but to bp
applied with profit the conditions
must be congcuial and care exact.
Sheep require IA firm dry soil TO
do well. A large portion of Miss
SiSSippi possesses i'll an eminent de-
gree this dry and rolling soil, so
well adapted to this business. The
almost exclusive cultivation of cots
ton over wide region of country,
has impoverished the soil, as cotton
will do, however rich the soil may
be, if long persisted in. Hencefor>
ward the recupeTatiun of the soil
% ir1t-
cious rotation of crops, with plenty
of grass, and sheep to eat 1t, is, we
believe, the groundwork of recuper
alton for the seemingly worn out
lands of Mississippi and especially of
Kinds and Madison counties, be-
cause of the tlatness of the surface
of these counties.
The wide range of countries that
ship wool to the United States will
be seen from what we give below:
Almost every spot on the globe
sends wool to the United States for
sale. South America exports annu-
ally one hundred thousand pounds
of wool to various countries, The
interior of Australia produces vast
quantities of wool of the finest grade.
New Zealand produces wool of the
finest texture from which the best
delaines are made High, dry lands,
in warm climate, produce the fins
est and hest wool, because those
countries produce sweet and succu-
lent grasses. The finest merino
wool is produced in Spain, France,
and Algeria, besides the countries
mentioned. England, France, Scot
land, Australia. Italy, Russia, Cuba,
Mexico, East India, West Indies,
Belgium, Chilli, Denmark and Tur-
key, ship wool to the United States.
The great plains of the West cores
pond to the dry plains of some OF
the countries mentioned. Others,
like Spain, France and Australia;
have climates like that Of the South.
Now, if the Intelligent farmers of the
South will take this matter in hand
and press sturdily on in the good
work begun, inauguratlng sheep
husbandry, the South will yet be-
come famous, not only for her wool,
but for her mutton. How strange
it is that men who own vast old
fields that produce native grasses
enough to feed thousands of sheep,
Ga Shepherds care is all they re-
quIre,) go plodding along after cot
ton, nothing but cotton. A poor
old colored man following poor
old mule in the sedge grass, high as
the mans head or the mules back.
an inferior old pillow and no corn to
feed the mule-tie him out at night
to eat sedge grassland the Nations
ward gets his next days rations
from some thrifty neighbours pig
pen or hen roost. My planting
friends, change your system, to be
successful. Plant more corn, and
more domestic grasses for hay. Pu,
all the surplus cotton seed on your
lands; make your old fields glad and
joyous with the song of your shep-
herd boy, mingled with The notes OF
his alpine horn, the sweetest sounds
that ever tell on mortal ear. Let
the bleatiLg of the little lambs, an
swered by the gentle call of the
mother sheep be daily music to your
ears, while it adds joy to your heart
and wealth to your purse.
Miss