The Republican journal., 1885-04-16
The Outlook for Sheep Raising.


The Outlook for Sheep Raising.
Written for he journal.
1t is hut very few years since fine
Wool and fine wooded sheep were in great
demand All the agricultural writers
had word 20 say in their favor and one
could hardly take up a farm newspaper
u-.holt seeing an article recommending
,acm. This Wholesale laudation brought
abo1' its natural tesults-an over supply
of t.c 0"ol and .ow prices Vt tine same
tame eoase and common woos could be
imported at low cost. The reduction of
the tariff ou All grades was tbe final blow
which following the natural Disadvantages
against which the American shepherd
was Struggling made 1t difficult for the
sheep men to hold their own. In looking
about to see what could be done it ap-
prIrcd to many that breeding for mutton
WIS the only alternative. The rush is
DOM ail In that direction. The fine wooled
breeds are neglected by both the farmer
ad the press. Mutton is the cry. There
is no doubt hut that this too will be fol-
lowed rs natural result Fine wool
Viii DE in demand and coarse wool
Gru-. \ really good mutton sheep pro-
lures coarse fleece The American
farmer is too ready to change base, not
on.y iu Sheep raising butin every depart
ment We have seen This illustrated in
cu.tya.iug potatoes, or oats. or beans,
alanst exclusively for one season simply
Urcau-e tue or another sold wen the pre-
c-dinl season.
Nj commodities. whether ot the farm
ur col The factory. aIe subject 10 fiuctua-
-f.lI.. and fin. tida Will turn In the sheen
tue;ar,s AS in all others. To he success
t.,l. unr mns+ have y snecialtv. than is. his
117rpns.. must he 10 nrodnce 4 heavy
fleece of line wool or a heavy weight NUT
ton sheen. There Is no breed Of sheen
l,1oUu that vfl1 rlea- foth racuiremonts
# is almost Am axiom that the hest mut-
ION breeds ,5Aii rnarse wool and that
fine vo,I..5 families baro lilrh+ cqrcaseas
lI.yir,5 "a spaci,lr,. b,a rnrst Stack mn ac-
,o,dir.,], ,...,,,, his l,rsfness and sricl, to
II. Tb. t,,-,l.t.. .-,..{..,- i,,,,,is o,,,,,+r- ;s
,t.,4 .ba most If am, ,lncl,s bara M, ,rraat
..yc,.,l.,.a in oirba, ,,,rt;r,!ar
E,h,,...,, tl,. I.,i4o,l s+aras ,bo,+ If
il, t,a.o,,la Wa n.r ,,rodreo s,t4i
,.ienr wool to sr,1.pIy the ronntrv the i'm
pn,ra-ian. ,,ogrqrarinu = ,o,,t $50 ooo ooo
annually, Euolano maintains ,bout tba
same number of sheen as do the United
States. These are nearly all mntton
Sheep of excellent size and form. The
English farmers have reduced the art of
tatteujng to a perfect system, and the
result is that England produces the finest
mutton in the world. Our people have
to make great Improvements in stock
and have much to learn in the way of
economical ana at the same time liberal
feeding before they can successfully com
prte with foreign mutton in foreign
market 1t is estimated that the island
Of New Zealand will be able TO supplv
f.urope with 900 600 carcasses of mut-
TON during the current wear if needed. 1t
seems clear then that we must seek
market at home. The American is not
at present partial to that kind of food.
Oar beef pork, and poultry, unrivaled as
to quality. are the popular meats in this
cnuntf, II is true tha+ early lambs are
alwavs in demand but mntton finds b1t
little favor in many markets. and if if
ever comes into as general use as beef il
must win its way bv merit and slowly.
Those who have good location. who re-
duce the matter of feeding to a science
and haro.a mat +oo ra,,,.,ta ,,,arl,o+ oo,, nn
WV '''''e i''''' N0' va" ii0
douot do wei ID the production OF NUT
ton with wool as an incidental. But for
long distances the difference in freight is
,,.,tar;ol ho.uo,, aarou,o .9,. -
i''i' "'oH N'iiai "o'' l" VI
wool ana a collars worth OF mutton.