The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-29

lands great ranges of mountains rear tnsn
heads and when the grasses on tne pia'ns
are dried hv the GUNNER heatbDu tue spo"
n,elts IN their fastnesses they AFFORD elegant
nastursce and thus California sheep haNo
green orass all the year round. lhey iuu
In flocks of from 1000 TO JUN. except s W.
Landing. when they were Ieuu'ou "
Of from 1000 to l,b0o.
GOOD ADVICE.
The methods with which am familiar 10
| California would be of very little service 70
YOU here with your different climatic anu
! fonographical conditions. But believe from
r,tat + See here that Merinos would be the
! hast range sheep for Virginia. but that they
cooid moi be carried in fiocks of over 800 at
,nost SIeriuo aud Shropshire j believe 10
Jo ,he beat cross for this country for good
heavy mutton and good grade of wool. A
cood grade Merino will bring ten pounds
of wool year in California in two shear
ings. and one man will shear from
thirty 10 fifty sheep a day. In iifteep 10
twenty years the price has dihered from
3Oc. 10 1910 per pound.
Vermont raises the finest Merino bucks IN
the world. and crossing on the common
Spanish Merno We get the very best grace
of range sheep. We count the wool as o
means Of defraying our expenses and look
on the increase Of the flock az our profits
| have used Indians for a number OF years
AZ shearers. We formerly had Chinese as
shepherds and now use Portuguese AS INC
best herders in the world.
Why WILL SATISFIED.
Mr.. Horace Swineford followed is a brief
talk on the same subject. lie SAID his eA-
nerienee was of two years duration; that
starting with fifty sheep he was 10 Wen
satisfied at the end OF one year he importer
050 Merino cross from Texas. He also I'M
ported TWENTY-FIVE choice Shropshire sheep
from England and with this cross hopes 20
pet II hardy race for mutton and WOOL. ne
said lie expected TO make more money ous
of tho twenty-five thoroughbred than out OF
the $50 Texas sheep.
Mr.. Julian Rufin related his experience
and made a remarkable statement as 10 the
profits Of sheep raising in Virginia. SAID
he:
Is MAKING MONEY.
Nv experience is old-fashioned. slow and
small have had fifteen years experience;
| keep one hundred sheep generally ana
this wear | will keep $40. | have had such
good results with common Virginia sheep
that until this year | have never had
grade sheep on my farm. / buy them young
and ut the end of two years they become
respectable size ewes. Ny sales run from
t25 10 f75 per cent. on the money
invested. and ought 10 get Z0J per cent. as
nav g for a eve and sell 81 lamb aud Il
worth OF wool from each eve. and would
have done so last year except for an unusual
mortality. now aspire 70 yet hlgner
things. however, aud will look 70 more
valuable crosses From January to April /
make il a point 10 see my sheep twice day
and feed them myself. | find 1t remunera-
tive. get at least one lamb for every eve.
The greatest drawback have is the want of
area and vet if / could be insured from the
danger Of dogs | would increase my mock TO
two hundred and decrease the crops on the
farm. ] am sure would make more
money.
Mr.. GRANTS IDEAS.
M Grant: / find that it pays me bes. 10
buy a flock of sheep. get crop Of lambs
and a crop of wool. and then sell the whole
flock and buy another. | have made an APP
parent profit of 800 per cent.
NEXT SUBJECT.
Thus it was shown by these and other
testimonials that sheep raising IN Virginia
pays handsomely. At the close OF
the meeting the president announced
the subject for discussion at the
next session 10 be The Best Methods Of
Feeding Farm Animals" And the secretary
was instructed to arrange for and report 10
the members the next place OF meeting. ~
shutdown they all babe their host a cordial
goodbye. The unanimous verdict was
given that this was the most enjoyable Of
the u any pleasant meetings Of the TuckahOe
Club.