The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-10-27
wooI.Growing In the Sou n.

A writer in the New York Times has some
Interesting remarks upon this matter. He
says
"The southern states offer an excellent
field for sheep husbsndry. The temperate
climate, the abundance of pure water, the
cheapness Of land, and the ease with which
pasturage can be produced and green feeding
crops may be grown, all invite the labors of
the shepherd. Vast tracts of land either re-
main unoccupied or have been Abandoned
by the cotton planter IS worn out ard I'M
profitable for their purposes. Nutritious
native grasses and fodder plants cover these
lands, or grow spontaneously when the tim
Der or scrdb vegetation is removed. The
mountain region is specially adapted for this
pursuit, and no more healthful pasturage ex-
lists than on tho broad table lands and the i'd
Vulnerable slopes and submits of the COM
plca,ed range of the appalachian chain
This extends from West Virginia to Georgia,
Including both these states. Tho rocks are
limestone and sandstone chiefly, but inter
mingled with irruptive slate and traps, all of
which furnish variety of soils, from the
light sandy loans TO heavy clays. Generally
the heavier soils are covered with deep black,
vegetable soil when produces the most lux
iant blue grass, that remains green, in the
70 lthorn localities, all the winter and which,
no withstanding the altitude, are rarely COW
cred with snow SO deeply as to prevent tho
sheep from feeding. When this occurs the
woods, which are there sufficiently open to
permit the growth Of grass, provide shell
ter and feed during the occasional storms.
This is the general character of the noun
tain region of West Virginia and North Car
olina. The table-lands of East Tennessee
and the lower lands of Georgia are light and
sandy, and produces a lighter, but still album
dant vegetation. Lower down on tho eastern
slope OF the mountains and in the tide. water
region are numerous old fields of abandoned
cotton plantations, which are overrun with
scrub pine and native grasses. These level
lands provide pasture and offer opportuni.
ties for the cultivation of green crops, such
as mustard, rape, turnips, cow peas, corn,
winter oats, and other local crops which will
support several sheep to tho acre, during the
fall and winter season, or when the pastures
are bare.
"For many years TO come the profits Of
sheep.keeping in the southern states will be
three.fold, viz: from the sale of wool, lambs
and mutton sheep shipped to markets in the
towns and cities, and Of pure.bred rams for
breeding purposes. A few pure.bred ewes
should, therefore, BIO made part of every
flock, and the lambs from these should be
raised with special care. On the whole, at
this time there is no more promising field
anywhere else in the country than the south
for the enterprise and industry of shop.
herd"
He more particularly refers to the south
Atlantic states. 1t is conceded that Texas is
the finest wool growing country on earth
All that is required here is stock to begin
with. Thousands and millions of acres OF
pasture lands can be occupied without pur.
chase, and rent free. OF course it is better
to own and to inclose the rancho, but that
can be done upon the profits of a few hum
bred head within brief number of years
Meantime the shepherd and his herdsmen
must look after them. A boy fifteen years
old can start with fifty head and die mil
lionaire ut forty, if he sticks righta the bus,
mess.