The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-30

SHEEP AND WooL.-Every indication
of the times, and every fact that can be
presented to the consideration of farmers.
show that for the coming years the sheep
and wool industry of our country is to as.
sumo far greater proportions than in the past
and that he prices of both mutton aud wool
are to be such rs will 10 luce far greater
int crest in sheep husbandry than for some
years. There are several causes for this
| some Of which relate more closely to our
home affairs, and others affecting the for.
eign aspect Of the matter, and, therefore,
coming to Us somewhat Indirectly
In England, during the past winter, the
oliver rot" disease quite unknown among
the focxs of the Uuited States, has caused
the death ofhundreds of thousands ofsheep,
and brought loss to the farmers from
which several years of the most faithful
beeding will not enable them to recover.
In Turkey, Persia, Russia, India, and
throughout the eastern nations generally,
the prevalence Of war, which has redered it
necessary for vast numbers of sheep to be
slaughtered, has almost put a stop to the pro-
duction of W ,ol, so that in English markets
there is really danger Of wool famine"
and prices Of all gades of wool have advanced
to figures quite unknown in the previous
history of the wool markets at this season
Ofthe year. Morcovcr, the consumption of
all grades Of combing, delaiuc aud carpet
woods, has, during the past eight months,
increased in our own country fully forty
per cent, while England is demanding more
OF our mutton than ever before in the histo-
rv Of our country; all of which has given
sheep husbandry and wool production such
an impetus rs it has not before had for
years. 1t is, in fact, a revival of one Of
the greatest branches of our national indus
try, and one which is likely to leave it come.
thing OF permanence, and be productive Of
lasting advantage. We base this opinion
upon the following, among other facts =
During the past year the wool manufacturers
of the vicinity of Boston required for their
wants 52,500,000 pounds ofwool more than
was used by them in 1878, while the stock
of domestic wool which they had on hand
the 1st of January last was the smallest,
with one exception, for the past five years,
and while it was also true that the great
West and the whole interior of our country
was never so completely cleared o. wool on
the 1st ofJanuary as it was at the begin
ming of this year. Since last November,
WOODEN goods have been selling as fast as
they could be manufactured, thing that
has not occurred previously, at the same
season of the year, for many years. These
and other facts will induce an increased at
tention to sheep husbandry, and when the
keeping of sheep comes to be made bus
iness OF wool, mutton, and manure, and not
wool alone, it will then become stable
aud permanent branch of farming.
One great trouble has heretofore been
that sheep farming in this country, has been
carried on in a somewhat spasmodic fashion.
Farmers have kept sheep for few years,
then, with an unfavorable turn in prices, or
losses on account of bad seasons, have aban.
doned the sheep for something else. But
We have yet to hear Of an instance where
farmer has stuck to sheep husbandry as
business for n period of ten or fifteen years,
who has not made money and kept his farm
growing better from Ich course There
is another important consideration which,
as we have frequently stated, gives to our
country one of its greatest advantages for
this line Of farming, and that is, the COM
parative freedom your focks have from any
depicting. fatal, contagious disease. This
is one of the great advantages Of our coun.
try as q section for sheep husbandry, and
one which will cause permanent increase
in the number of sheep kept, in view of the
great losses from disease abroad.-Nev
England Farmer.