Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-05-29
SHEEP CULTURE,
In SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

Tazewell county is already a good
sheep producing section and buys and
sells many. Col. Eddy, of the N. &
w. is canvassing the matter thor
ougbly. The following letter is in
reply to some of hisinquiries.
ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, MAY 5th, 1891.
Mr.. CHAs. &. EDDY,
ce-President N. &. w. r. r.,
Roanoke, Va
Dear Sir:-Your favor of the 9th
reached me few days ago, and in
reply will say: The sheep enterprise
in which / am interested is located
in Halifax county, the nearest mil
road point being "Lelnig," on the
Lynchburg & Durham road, about
40 miles south of Lynchburg. We
have about 1,600 acres of land there,
and believe we have the foundation
for n prosperous business in the
sheep line. We took LOO head of
choice sheep from the West about
December LIST last, and thus fur have
no reason to believe that they will
not prove profitable. We have had
quite u number of sheep to die,
heard, but it was due to our lack of
preparation more than to any local
cause. On the sheep lands of Vir-
ginia and the south in general there
is no reason why sheep should not
be grown as successfully and more
proftably than on higher lands in
the West. Living, labor and all
items of expense arc lower than in
the West and while feed and forage
is naturally higher, the increased
profit of being nearer to market we
believe overcomes this ono item.
The average winter period is short,
and with reasonable care sheep
raising can be made prosperous and
of great benefit to the whole south,
ern country. The value alone for
fertilizing the wornout lands Of the
old plantations is incalculable, and
lands appreciate in value after sever
al years pasturing of sheep on them.
We expect to ship few car loads
this fall again, if nothing happens
to prevent, and if we buy in Texas
or Southwestern points we can ship
via your road with satisfaction to
Lynchburg. If we feel that they
could be handled successfully, we
would not hesitate to ship several
cars for sale, though the distance is
long,and it would not be wise to do so
without definite contracts with par
ties East and cash deposit to guar
rantee us for loss We would pro-
pose to ship only breeding ewes, of
course, and our own would be bred
in the West to save the necessity of
buying and caring for rams during
the winter. We would contract to
deliver ewes at stated price, served
with ram in the West for lambing at
about the right period in the East if
such course was thought desirable
by the buyers. Then for n second
season they would have to provide
thmselves with rams.
The Shenandoah Valley, from
Hagerstown to Bristol, is d higher
priced country than where our place
is located, we think and, outside the
more severe winters, it may be pre-
ferable to our locality. There are
now many sheep in the section you
name, we have been told, but farm.
ers cannot raise too many sheep.
Common Virginia sheep can be
bought, few heads at time, for
less money than our brand cost us.
But the sheep we are handling are
of Merino blood and desirable to
breed up from. nm of opinion that
farmers would hesitate to pay $500
or S4.25 per head for sheep, though
they might do so for sheep bncked,
as we suggest. They certainly are
profitable at the price; our brand
cost us $500 laid at our station.
Wherever sheep growing has been
made success it has enriched the
country in more ways than the mere
profit accruing to the grower. 1t is
good industry to foster. Here il
the West, OH free grass, sheep are
run at small expense, but losses are
larger and transportation to market
an aynopciuo that ol,aa.. -. l.