Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-10
SHEEP HUsBANpRY.
WEST vIRGINIA's ADAPTABILITY
TO THIS PROFITABLE BUSINESS.

= - IN ~
WEST VIRGINIA'S ADAPTABILITY |
TO THIS PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
| am glad to notice that though |
the press, and otherwise, the dairy
interests OF this State are being dis
cussed and brought more prominently
before the public. 1t has long been a
conceded fact that our climate and
soil, that produces such luxuriant
and nutritious grasses, with her ac-
feasibility to the eastern markets,
should, when developed, place her in
the front rank as butter and cheese
producing section and at time
when the people are beginning to re-
alize the fact that they cannot CON-
pete with the West in raising cattle
for the markets, for the reason that
the free and abundant pasturage
that Is still open to the herdsman,
with millions of acres of rich, virgin
soil on which they can produce corn
to feed and fatten their stock, at if
teen and eighteen cents per bushel,
gives the West advantages that we
can scarcely estimate. With the
further benefits she has in rates and
railroad facilities flor it is fact that
dressed beef can be shipped from
Chicago to Baltimore or Philadelphia
for rates as low as we can getOn our
stock from any point in West Vir-
ginia to the same markets,) these
things cause the cattle business in
West Virginia to look anything but
promising and remunerative. While
the dairy interests would be centered
principally near the cities and large
towns and public thoroughfares, there
Is business to which West Virginia
is especially adapted, and one that
will pay greater return for labor
and capital expended than any other,
and that is sheep husbandry. In this
we have the advantage over the West
for the reason that theirs is not natu-
rally a sheep growing country. The
texture of the mutton, grown and
fattened on the course cereals of the
rich fiat lands of the West, is far in.
ferior to that grown and fattened on
the blue grass of West Virginia, to
say nothing about her mild climate
and pure water, which makes this
one of the most desirable sections in
the United States for sheep raising.
And the further fact that West Vir-
ginia wool has taken the highest pre-
MUM at the Worlds Fair at Vienna,
gives us an enviable position as
wool growing section. But wool is
only secondary matter in sheep
husbandry. In this State the great
est profit is derived from the lambs
grown for the early markets. Being
close to the eastern cities, lambs can
be shipped to market in good shape
and command the highest prices.
There are few small farmers but
what could keep a few brow ewes in
connection with their other farm
stock. How many hundred farmers
in West Virginia who might, with a
little extra attention or care, keep
from ten to fifty, or even hundred
ewes, who now have nothing that
brings them profit at the end of the
year? Say, for instance, that a far
mer invests in the fall $50 for ten
ewes. With ordinary care, he will
clip in April 81 worth Of wool from
each sheep, and in June or July he
will realize for his lamGs So per hun
dred; and estimating the lambs to
weigh 10 pounds, gives him $3.50
per head, which is a low estimate.
Add to what he receives for his wool,
and it gives him a profit of $3.50 per
head, or S45 in all, and he has his
stock ewes left. Whilst $40 is not
large amount it is more than a great
many farmers make on an invest.
ment, ten times greater, in cattle.
Sheep husbandry distributes the
income more generally amongst the
people, and stimulates and encour-
ages them more than business that
requires more land and capital to
carry it on. West Virginia is natu.
rally adapted to sheep raising. Geo.
graphically, we are near the markets,
while the climate and soil produces
the finest grasses and cereals neces.
sary to the production of fine wool
and mutton. The hill land that is
liable to be cut up with horses or
cattle affords the finest grazing
lands we have for sheep.
Another matter of no small i'm.
portance should not be overlooked,
and that is in keeping up the fertility
of the soil. The comparative value
of stock in this respect is very great,
while cattle gather their food from
the hillsides and carry it to the low.
est gulches; and wind breaks at
night when the manure is entirely
lost; sheep, on the other hand,
gather their food in. day time from
the bottoms and carry it to the high
est hill.tops, at night depositing the
growth and substance of the land
where it is most needed, and where
the rains will distribute the strength
of 1t over the land.
Nature has not deposited all Of her
wealth and resources in one spot or
section, as some might believe, but
nobly has she done her partin West
Virginia. The interests and facilities
Of the country are so diversified that
by following in the way that seems
to be so plainly marked out we may
attain to prosperity and happiness.
Let the hill-tops be given a chance
and they Will produce abundant
grass of the finest quality; hills from
whose sides gush out the finest
springs of pure water. And as the
State is being developed by rail
roads, and mines and manufactures
are springing up, let the tiller OF the
soil be wise and take advantage of
the facilities that Nature has placed
so abundantly at his door and with
in his reach.
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