The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-23

farmers too often fail 10 give personal atteri-
ton TO the minutia of our work sndiif We
are 70 keep step with the progress of the age
and make the future Of our dear old Com
monwealth as rich in material prosperity as
ner natural advantages claim. We must
the day OF small things. On my way from
Charlottesville to Lynchburg and thence TO
TINS place | diligently looked out for ilocks u
sheep, and how many do you suppose could
be seen? just two small focks beyond Lynch
burg and one IN this county. | observed
that IN Amherst and Nelson the cultivation OF
corn and tobacco was confined for the most
part TO the best land on creeks and branches.
and the hills. that under n judicious system
OF sheep husbandry are capable of bringing
the owners more clear money than all the
cultivated crops Of corn. wheat and tobacco
are practically abandoned. the gullies widen
ing and growing deeper with every shower.
We have heard so much Of the golden hoOf OF
the sheep that like a twice told tale it has
lost its meaning but a matter of practical
experience, il is true that running sheep
on our lands does improve them. A
few years since | rode over the farms
OF Washington. the banner sheep coun-
~ of PENNSYLVANIA. and was struck
with the luxuriant sod of blue grass covering
their Mills. | asked how it came. The soil was
not naturally as good as yours, and the expla-
nation in the mouth OF the farmers was
sheep. sheep. The golden hoof had trod
those hills for fifty years or more; weeds had
given place % nutritious grass and the even
and continuous distribution of manure had
steadily improved the sod No wonder the
farmers were prosperous. The farmers OF Bed
ford can attain,the same results; try IT,
BROOM STRAW.
The question has been asked since came
here How many sheep O broomstraw pasture
will carry 10 the acrel Well. this is a hard
question for one who is not accustomed to
dealing with broomstraw to answer, and |
don't propose 10 mislead anybody by pre-
tending 10 answer q practical question with
theories Let the farmer who wants solu-
ton OF this question commence with just
half as many sheep on this character
Of land as he thinks he can carry
and increase his flock only as his prac-
tcal experience demonstrates his ability 20
do so. But let me warn you. don't livestock
your land, for Just in proportion az the pronts
will be large from judiclOus stocking, IN like
ratio will they be small if you overdo the
thing. Let any farmer who has no sheep on
his farm try the experiment. and If need be,
commence IN IN small way with ten or
twenty ewes. and ! venture TO say that at the
END of the first year when he compares the
cost with profits he will wonder how he ever
got along without them. so comfortable will
he find it 10 handle the returns from wool
and lambs. coming in at the season usually so
hard to tide over. before any of his cultivated
crops come in. Then. too, let Us not forget
how wholesome and toothsome is the lamb
and mutton from the home flock, and how
much cheaper than that supplied by the local
butcher.
have said nothing about the diseases of
sheep, because in our hill country-the natu-
raj home of the sheep-with common-sense
treatment they are practically exempt.
Don't crowd them feed well salt regularly.
give an infusion of fresh blood az often as
necessary: always bear in mind the maxim,
IAN ounce Of prevention is worth a pound OF
cure" and you need not fear an epidemic in
the flock
The fact is. Mr. Chairman. feel like shak-
ing up the Virginia farmer who persists in
denying himself. his family and his State the
palpable benefits within his reach from this
source: and if such "A one Is here yield the
floor that he may give Il reason for the faith
that is in him.