San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-02-08

It;on Of il. The southern and south
western states, through their greater
adaptabiity of climate, and in some
places perennial pasturage, with other
leading advantages over the northern
and northwestern states, must become
the great sheep and wool-produeine
section of the country. Many of these
states have recognized this ultimatum,
and have embarked in the sheep
growing enterprise on a large scale
and with proportionate success, as is
shown in the marvellous increase OF
sheep during the last few years. In
California, Texas, Arkansas, Virginia
and some other states the business is
no longer an experiment, but an en-
phasized fact.
CARE OF SHEEP NECESSARY FOR PROFIT
America is fast becoming the great
feeder of the world and will ultimate
ly be the great wool, cotton and silk
producer. The profits of sheep hus-
bandry, where the business is properly
conducted, are far in excess of any
other profits produced on the farm,
and no agency is so cheap and effec-
tive for retaining waste lands as a
flock of sheep. They should be seen
on all the mountains and ridges and
in all the valleys throughout the
south. Sheep husbandry may be
made success everywhere there, but
the conditions of success must rest In
part with the persons who engage in
| it. 1t is folly to imagine that sheep
will grow up and present its owner
with a handsome fleece, once or twice
year, when it has received no care
or attention. Sheep require as intel
ligent and careful management as
any other subject from which great
profits are expected to accrue. Wher-
ever sheep-raising is carried ON In q
thorough and business-ike manner
the profits are enormous, and in the
south this industry can be made more
profitable than gold mining.
SOUTHERN ADVANTAGES.
There are millions of acres of Texas
pasture lands yet untrodden by the
sleeps golden hoof, vast acres of
rich grasses whose green blades might
be turned into warm feeces, and yet
people will turn away their eyes from
this paradise of wealth. Here are
boundless prairies, luxuriant grasses,
equable climate and every conceivable
advantage to encourage people to de-
velop fortune. The rapidity with
which foeks increase under favorable
conditions, as found in the south, is
astonishing. Men of very small
means who embark in this industry
and pursue their labor with diligence
and Intelligence become possessed Of
wealth within the space Of a few years.
Southern Georgia offers to wool-grow-
ers one of the best fields on the con-
tinent for investment. On the wire
grass and perpetual plant growth in
the southern part of the state, where
snowneverfalls and the ground seldom
freezes; where the earth is carpeted
with grass that is indigenous to the
soil from January to Decem-
Der, sheep can be raised at the cost
of fourteen cents head per annum.
Middle and northern Georgia are also
we'll adapted to sheep-raising, but the
southern portion of the state is a
very sleeps paradise. The Carroll
mas also possess all the requisites for
successful sheep husbandry. Arkan-
sas is demonstrating practically her
unquestionable capabilities for sheep
growing, which is destined to become
an industry of great magnitude in
that state if her hocks continue to
multiply as rapidly as they have done
during the past five years. Kentucky,
with her famed blue grass, is equal to
competition in mutton from any
quarter of the globe. Ambitious
Florida is raising sheep and doing |
well at it, and Virginia, although one
of her sons said he would go out of
his way any day to kick q sheep" is
preparation to atone on a
large scale for her early prejudice
against this most worthy and val
liable animal. E. G.