The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-05-31
AGRICULTURAL TOPICS.
INSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR OUD
RURAL READERS,
Some Information of Value to the Farmer,
Stock Breeder. Bee Keeper, Housewife,
and Kitchen Maid.
THE FARM.
Will Sheep Raising Pay?


Captain Forrest, of keokuk County,
Iowa, gave answer to the above at a re-
cent agricultural institute, summing up
his experience as follows: Sheep rails
ing has been more profitable than cattle
in the last six years. Six years ago last
spring we bought 1866 worth, and in the
latter part of the winter five years ago
We bought 81, GOO worth. making q total
of $3.50. In that time We have sold over
$1,000 worth OF wool and mutton, have
about Si,5G0 on hand, leaving a gain of
about "a, Hna. We calculate that if We
have 81 900 in the fall that in the year,
in two installments, we will get our
money out, leaving US the next fall with
as many sheep to start in again. \ lou
should always cut out the old and fatter
ones and sell for mutton, leaving the
young and most desirable ones. l know
a man who keeps about 100 sheep, who
SAYS he has experimental by paying SO
for steer calf and SO for ewes, and
when the steer matLred and was ready
for market he had cash enough from
sale of wool and mutton to buy the steer
and his SIS worth of sheep lett as clear
gain. Ittook no more feed or grass for
the sheep than for the steer.
J. W. Pollock, an Ohio sheep raiser,
argues the following propositions:
l. That more wool ought to be grown
ana more mutton produced by the farm
ers OF the United States; and ,, that
more Of the farmers ought to engage III
these Legitimate and profitable indus
tries. L the first is proved the second
will naturally follow. In support of
these propositions / submit three rea-
sons: |. More farmers should keep
sheep because it would be profitable; it
would pay. > 1t is duty We owe each
other. 3. 1t is a duty We owe to our
county; it would be patriotic in the
highest sense for the farmers of this
country TO grow q sufficient amount of
wool to clothe ourselves. i, is
estimated that about 90nD,00 of our
people are engaged III agricultural pur
suits, and that there are about l,600, 600
farms in the United States. and perhaps
almost as many farmers or land owners.
Statistics tell us that not more than
l,e2H.uOn, or less thar onefourth OF all
the farmers i'll the United States. re
engaged in the wool growing industry,
and that of the nearly J,GG0, 900 farms
only about one-1ourth have sheep kept
on them. Ifsheep were kept in small
focks on every farm the wool growers
would number 1000, 900 instead of .Uoo.-
eco voters. Instead of hocks
being scattered all ovtrthe country they
ought to be consolidated all over the
country. My proposition is that We
have more Hooks and not more sheep
more tiocks that We may produce more
wool and mutton. and that we may grow
better wool and mutton. The hight st
grades Of wool and the best quality of
mutton IL the world are tie products of
the small fochs III the United States.
As a nation we boast of our
ability to fe d 60. ooU,ono of people and
have a surplus for the foreign trade.
Why net clothe our own people as we'll
as feed them The farmers of this
country ought bv all means to grow a
sufficient amount of wool to supply our
own mills, and thus encourage the home
manufacture Of our American wool.