The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-08
MOUNTAIN FIOcKs.

largest mutton can be cheaply and proftably
produced
MOUNTAIN FLocKs.
~ We have Middle Virginia and South
| side with large bOunlar es of pine and cedar
covered with broom sedge aud humorous
plants. vines and grasses greedily eaten by
sheep. The mid winters DeyeI Xii these and
sheep with sufficient range will refuse 20 eat
hay or fodder. need no feed and keep fat all
winter. | know Of iOcks that have averaged
FIVE pounds of wool that never cost their
owner anything, except for salt and sheariug
Take the lambs and mutton into account
and wool in this section does not cost one
cent per pound. The large area of these lands
uncultlvated, with lmUr vements at from s.
70 -. and without at 30 to +: 5 per acre
make 1t the cheapest place 20 produce wool
and 10 could now carry without Improvement
and require only the attention Of shepherd
and dogs milhops Of sheeY Hero is the
place for large fiocks MerinOs cheap wool.
WHAT WILL PAY.
'3. Tidewater with mild climate. native
Bermuda aud swey0q grasses. cheap water
transportation and proximity 10 Northern
markets; great product Of COW peas best
feed Tor Sheep. with small hOcks on small
farms. could raise the best and earliest spring
lambs and many now do so with great profit
What we need IS a law controlling dogs
and an examination into the sub
Jet by some fockmasters with means 70 buy.
The establishment IN each Of these sections
OF a few large. well-kept and well-bred fiocks
and the state would soon be filed with sheen
No interest. no industry that we have. no
crop Will make as large net profit. and if
gwen proper care and attention is so safe
EXPORT MUTTON.
Mr.. Bells second letter in answer 10 the
Your letter gives me much satisfaction
The advantages in Virginia are very fine for
al lines OF sheep industry There is one mova |
we have not mentioned. This is the mutton |
for export, both alive and the dressed car |
casses
TO export dressed mutton it is necessary
10 nave deep water, where sea-go:ue yesseis /
can receive cargoes Chicago cannot send
mutton 10 England IN cold storage siIAee it nos
10 De handled three times. Exposure 10 ths
air at third handling ruins the meat. No
large quantities of live sheep are sent To Enc
lanu from Chlcago The sheep are too high
priced IN the first place, and the transporta-
ton too expensive
The sheep have TO be slaughtered al thu
place OF deoarkatlOn. IL they could be- sent |
10 pasturage IN the interior there would be an
advantage IN selling. As it Is they have to be
S. lAI "a inc condition IN which they
arrive mere which Is Of course quite uncer-
tam. This often cuts the prices down 70
nothing
WOOL LAST.
You will see that Virginia ought 70 ha
lsed not only for raising sheen but for feed
NJ and shipping. You can raise tbar, o.
'heSpiy as tho Western ranges. and feed than
IS cheaply AS Nebraska or Illinois and MAKE,
mem Where You please without the restrio'
IONS. IL seems TO me that the word wool
mould be placed last ia the list Of nhepn |
u 0"oeP
II Is quito proper that wool should not bs !
rejected; but when there are more valuable
roducts. thev should have precedent In their
ne OF value. There IS no question hut NM !
on raised. lifted and sold in the most busi
ess IKE way IS more valuable than wool
ne carcass IS more important than tho fieeca
Next 10 mutton in Virginia. where tho soil
depleted by centuries of exhaustive form
az, should be manure-fertility; in this no
usbandry. '"'0P
ANTIcvATTD HISTORY.
This urging Of wool upon the farmers ;stbe
'llc OF the respectable past. All the methods
ave an antiquated history Our fathers gent
ieep ior wool and what they did AND Nm
roy uiu IL we were Taught 10 think and can .
sudiy Keep from still believing. was ali riobt
ne Iacts are the changes are such that orr
liners and grandfathers sheen and svstsms
. played and we ara driven either To adon, .
10 new systems Or quit the business Of rais' :
because OF the situation of VIRGINIA 49, h
'lneu ABOVE and its advantages for trans c
'ttatoh 10 any markets that suit ia nd ~.
''"DHsss " ishas. insist that no countrY y