The progressive farmer., 1901-11-19

can, OF build it up better if you know
how. A new industry always has
most everything to contend against,
but the right always prevails in the
end So it will be this time for
sheep in the South, for as see it,
their day is at hand.
Another food of the lower South
that has never been half appreciated
for sheep ia the sweet potato. We
have line upon line concerning tur-
nlps and beets for sheep In the North
and West, butnOthlng muoh about
the wondrOus sweet potato Of the
South. The region comprising the
Gulf States Is it's peculiar home.
Sheep love the sweet potato and
will devour them with as much rel
ish as they do the sugar beet; while
they are worth about twice as much
for food as beets and turnips. In
most Uf the sandy regions they can
b5 grown at d cost OF five to ten
cents u bushel WHOM makes them
cheap sheep food. These with cot
ton seed meal, pea vines and fodder
corn shredded or saved in the sllO,
Will mUs5 abundAntly feed sheep six
months In the year and produce wool
at less shan 12% cents p und and
tat mutton at 1858 than three cents u
pound.
This oombi nation which Gan be 50
abundantly grown in the South re-
glons, comp 1888 food for ewes that
are bringing up the ''sprlng lamb"
for tue NUrTnern-or any market as
well as for she lambs.
1t has beer strongly urged upon
me- by many old men who kept she p
IN these States b5Iore tie OWL war,
shat they were then healthy and that
they really cost but iCtIe to Keep
them In the Gulr Sta tes and that
they Will eat up the leaves anu green
bills of cotton alter the last pick
ing and that they will 1--we month
OF two ON green wheat tields du' ing
the wlnter-anI claim tha5 SUCH
pasturlng does not lDjure the heat /;
thus last doubt as u general tulng,
although under specially favorable
cundiuOns wheat fields might De
uepastu1e1 some Wi b sheep greatly
to the benefit of both wheat ana
sheep.
However, fields of rye and winter
uats sown early and abundantly ao-
cordIng to the number of sheep to be
H1ntereu, viii, surely carry the stock
sheep through until spring in fine
condition with but little grain so
,lsO will Bermuda grass and other
kinus ~hicn Withstand the cold.
Fhis plan where it can be followed
in the lower South greatly simphties
and Cheapens the Gust of Keeping
doubt OF It's practica biity. When
tnis manner of handling the sheep
shall come to be- unuerstuOd, taken
up and practiced, it will be dem III
sbrated that wool can be prohtably
raised in Bhe South at In to Is
cents per pound.
In other worus we find that where
an abundance of winter feed must be
prepared for long winters it may
cost 81 80 per head annually TO keep
sheep, but in this South country
when the sheep can surely be pas
cured ON green food almost ali tue
year round, the cost OF keeping will
not exceeu Is cents per head, anu
6uus the South can be made 60 rival
the pastoral regions of the far West
tor sheep huspandry.
L say that the South in this mighty
industry, can raise wool and mutton
OF the best Qualities to clUthe and
feed the million and yet not detrACt
from, but increase her pryducBs OF
cotton, grains, grasses and fruits.
SAMUEL ARCHER.
Statesville, Iredell Co N. q.
FARMERS MEE1ING IN IREDELL.
50 8, 80 l.. \ n