The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-03-13
SHEEP HUSBANORY.
The Methods That Are Likely to Lead
Solid Success.

The Methods That Are Likely to Lead to
Solid Success.
1t has often been asserted by those in
the best position for obtaining informa-
ton that pound of mutton can be pro-
auced as cheaply as a pound of beef. If
this is true the -sheep-raiser starts on
very nearly an equality With the cattle
raiser so far as meat production is con-
.eerned. The difference lies in the prices
obtained for their product. Any adj
vantage the beef-raiser has in this re-
spect is certainly counterba!anced by
what the sheep-seller gets for his fleece,
even at the railing low price of woods.
| This must be admitted as true of all the
sD-called mutton sheep.
As to those tiocks kept primarily for
wool growing, the case differs some
what. With these the carcass is of less
relative importance, as it supplies a
| small amount of mutton, and this is of
comparatively little value. Owners
have allowed themselves to overlook
he importance of meat production, and
have so long refused to hearken to the
| counsel of reason that that dame is now
vigorously rapping them over the
| Snucklcs for their negligence. They
have persisted in putting their eggs
| into the one basket of wool-growing
until the existing low prices for that
| product finds them on short rations.
though with necessities by no means
| diminished.
These facts are enumerated, not for the
purpose of casting imputations on any
locality or class of breeders. They are
| recited only because they are believed
TO indicate the avenue of relief for the
owners of many valuable fiocks from
present embarrassment, and as provid-
ing safeguard against the recurrence
of sHeh -embarrassments in the future.
Ii good mutton can be made from fine
wool sheep, and the owners of fine wool
focks omit to avail themselves of the
advantage its production brings within
their resch, they have only themselves
20 blame for the resulting shortness in
theii' bank accounts. That a good sell
ing carcass is not inconsistent with a
fleece combining the more desirable
essentials OF fine wool, may be made
apparent to any man who will look
through the more prominent Eastern
and Middle States markets. Pittsburgh
is one OF the best mutton markets in the
country. No better mutton gets into
that market than some which comes
from tocks in Washington County. Pa,
whose owners have learned to look for
money under the fleece as well as in it.
There seems no good reason for Doubt
ing that Just such knowledge as this
must come to all the managers of fine
wool fiocks before tie maximum of
profit is secured from them. Possibly,
fewer sheep-certainlv better ones
and these handled flor ali they are
worth, is tie key to the problem just
now engross.ng the attention of many
Cock owners.
Wool prices, now low, wisl probably
remain SO for some time &c come, GER
tsinly so long as other products of the
farm end factory are cheap and slow
of sale. From the present outlook,
however, farmers are likely to get quite
SIS well paid for wool growing as for
corn snd wheat growing if selling on
the ruling market If all determine to
hold fos better prices, in the economy
of storage and the facility in securing
necessary money advances the adj
vantage is certainly with the WOOL
grower, who, in the final roundup
from hard times, viii probably not be
so much worse OF than his neighbors,
as many of his seif-appointed advisers
have taught hi1a to heye.-Breeders'
Gazette.