Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-03
seeow,cks SHEEP.



From the comprehensive report published
Of the annual sheep shear ct wichita Il
seems Quite certain that sur county viii be-
come the leader in smother important In
dustry. The tables are accurate and win
be interesting to every farmer In the county,
especially to those owning high grades or
nne woods, and there 10 money In no other
breeds. Prof. Hammond, one OF our prom
insnt sheep men, says that his father, an
old sheep grower, once remarked 70 him
that $50 long - man comes naked into the
world, just 20 long win wool growing prove
profitable" There 10 much truth In the
remark. Some one else observes that OF the
tendency to mixed farming In q new State
much can be said. In an area like Kansas,
suited best to diversifed system Of agri-
culture, and yielding competence to men
who prosecute an intelligent cropping, there
10 always . class Of unsubstantial farmers
who are likely to be carried away by specu-
lative agriculture, and DO partially fail.
With sheep and cattle properly cared for.
this class becomes practically Independent
OF wind and weather. Truly, there IL .
prospect Of II soon being fulfilled what was
written about this great State few year,
ago, that her cattle, sheep and hogs are the
foundation Of her wealth and prosperity,
and that TO these she must look in the fu.
ture A. her principal resource. The amount
Of corn, hay, and other forage crops pro
duced will be considered not in respect Of
their value for marketing. but instead for
stock.feeding purposes. The corn crop has
been advancing In bulk for twenty years,
until last year it had reached q product Of
100, 000, 900 bushels. How much OF this
went to stock, it would be hard to say ex-
actly, but the time is fast drawing on when
1t will no longer be asked, How much will
the crop sell for, How much will the rail-
road charge for shipping this grain! But.
rather, How many cattle, hogs, sheep and
work animals will ii feed. So runs the
world away in Kansas.
1t 10 marvellous how sheep and wool grow.
ing have increased In this country within
fifteen years. In 1850 there were only about
., 900, 900 sheep in the United States. We
now have nearly $4,000, 900. In 1850 the
wool clip amounted to only o., OO0, 900 pounds
to-day 1t is nearly 800, OOs, 900 pounds-sn
increase within this period Of over two fold
Of sheep and five told in the production of
wool, giving unmistakable evidence OF our
advance in this industry.
Nessrs. Little and Hammond, officers Of
the association, made the following report:
he al haa NJ kA A r..
kansas Valley Wool Growers Association,
held at Wichita, on Saturday, April 21st,
was . success in every particular, and
eclipsed everything OF the kind that has
ever been undertaken in this part Of the
State. Although the day was boisterous
within the sheds everything WAS life and
animation and fun and frolic seemed to
keep pace with the music of fifteen pairs Of
clippers shears. HUNDREDS Of people were
present during the day-a constant crowd
being in attendance from ten O'Clock in the
the festival was necessarily brought to q
close, leaving q number of sheep to be re-
turned home unshorn for lack Of time. The
growing interest in the annual shearing
will probably render it IL necessary, in the
future to take two days instead Of one in
order that all may be accommodated.
The prize for the best shearing was award
ed to s. II. Lee.
The exhibit OF sheep was very fine and
would be ereditable to any Of the older
States. The spring being cold and back.
ward, and the grease not being brought out
into the wool, the weights Of the feeces
were less than they otherwise would have
been, but the showing below lie good. One