The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-09-10
Live Stock and Dairy.
SHEEP IN THE SOUTH.
XII

AAS %AubbOa oub1uSSB-AuGGOuNV VS. 31OR A6aG
The South Peculiarly Adapted to "spring
Lamb" and Fat Mutton Industry-It Should
GraspIths Chance Presented Now-CottOn
Growing and Sheep Husbandry Form a
Trust Combine-0n Common Ewes, First
Cross DOrsett-Reasons Why-One Ram for
1876 Ewes.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
Up to this chapter not much has
been said about keeping sheep for
mutton because managing them for
either wool or mutton or both is
about the same in general and mainly
differs only in the feeding off process.
In the old very thickly settled
countries as in some parts of our
own, the usefulness of the sheep for
mutton is the first or prime purpose,
the fleece being. secondary. How
ever, in our country, with suoh vast
areas of wild and other uncultivated
acres of grazing lands, it may yet be
a half or a whole century before the
mutton market will cease to be fluc-
tuated from whole flocks of mutton
of common quality thrown upon it
from the grazing regions. IF the
masses of our people we're trained up
in the use of good mutton as thor
oughly as they have been in the use
of pork, the mutton market could
not be so crippled at times because
all the oommoner winter mutton
sheep offered would be readily taken
by feeders and fed up to a high
standard before reaching the sham
bles.
The writer sees the day of this
general condition of the meat mar
ket approaching, but from several
causes its coming is gradual in the
South and by far too slow for the
business, but especially so for the
people who would be SO greatly bene-
flied by it. The noted Kendall, of
Texas, used to boast to me that his
Merino mutton saddles were three
inches thick, and that he never re-
quired his employees to eat hog meat,
but furnished them fat mutton
roasted, boiled or fried, hot or cold
all the time. IF there was Kendall
sheep man on every two miles square
of the Gulf States to practice and ad-
wise the use of mutton, instead of 80
much hog meat, the health of the
people would be greatly improved
and millions more money would be
made and saved to them.
It is in the education of the masses
to the use of fat mutton that the
South holds such an important place.
It's natural position in this respect
cannot be acquired by any other part
of the nation. She is now confronted
with that opportunity.
If she does not grasp and hold it as
her peculiar own, her privilege will
surely be supplanted by her versa
tile, industrious and ever vigilant
Northern brothers, who will find
ways and means to overcome and
surpass her natural advantages of
climate and vegetation.
If she will intelligently and indus
triously take it up, in less than ten
years she will develop an industry
co-existant with that of cotton, and
which will not supplant it but prove
it's most important adjunct.
The conditions are here. The peo-
pie are here. The market is abso
lutely waiting. Will the enterpris-
ing, Industrial great people of the
South brush the mists from before
their eyes so as to see and grasp and
hold this great business that may be
theirs? A few of the quicker in en-
terprise may do this and by example
open the way and make it clear to
the more conservative.
AS a general proposition a mutton
sheep farm shOulc be rich with rather
level or bottom land capable of
throwing up u strong growth Of tri-
ennial grasses; yet such condition is
not essential, it is only convenient
as they have it over in Kentucky
and West Virginia.
Even poor, hilly sandy ridge and
rocky farm or plantation can be
made in few years an excellent and
profitable sheep farm. When these
two conditions exist on the same
no higher ideal for the
business need be sought for.
Any farm or plantation even of
bottom lands that is sufficiently
drained either natural or artificial,