The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-07-08
SOUTHERN SHEEP RANCHES.

Practical suggestions as to sheep
raising in the South have been made
as follows by Col. J. B. KiIebrew in
reply to inquiries of a correspondent
of the Southern Farm Magazine:
First-Large focks of sheep will do
well in the South on any w~ell-drained
land. Mountain-sides, hillsides and
tablelands are well suited for the rails
ing of sheep. I am of the opinion
that Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky,
Tennessee and North Carolina, as
well as the uplands in the other South
ern States, are much better adapted to
sheep husbandry than even the West.
In these States shade and water are
abundant, and the climate is almost
an ideal one for the iock-master.
The second question is, "What pos
sible danger is there in the enter
prise" None except dogs. Very
few diseases have ever attacked the
focks of the South. There are nu-
merous advantages, and chief among
these is the cheapness of the lands.
Good lands for carrying IN this
branch of stock-raising may be bought
for 81 to S. per acre in many places.
Another advantage is that these high
land pastures may be had in as large
areas as may be desired, while upon
many of them in the open woods are
found the luxuriant growth of nutri-
tious herbs and grasses throughout the
summer. There are such places in
Kentucky, Tennessee and Northern
Alabama upon which millions of,sheep
could subsist for eight months in the
year without any other a r than salt
ing.
Another advantage will be found in
the dryness of the soil in these noun
tain regions, which insures exemption
from many of the diseases fatal to
sheep. Through a period of long OBJ
servation and experience I have never
seen to any considerable extent those
diseases prevailing among the focks
in the South that are so fatal in other
countries, and no foot all, no braxy, no
blind staggers, no impaired organs of
digestion occur among the focks in
those States. When they die it is
either from neglect in winter, from
prowling dogs or from old age. The
greatest disadvantage is found in the
straying of the sheep. There are also
a few shrubs, among others the caly-
canthus, which sheep sometimes eat
with fatal results.
The third question propounded is,
"Would not common ewes bred to
pure-bred bucks be the best way to
start, and would it not be better to
bring ewes from the South rather than
from the North or West?"
The ewes of the natives bred to i'm
ported bucks through several genera
tions produce hocks better suited to
our climate and surroundings than
any that can be imported. With many
farmers in the South the native breeds
are not appreciated. They form the
very best foundation upon which to
build up a flock suited in every par
ticular to the habits of Southern
farmers and the conditions of the eli
mate. The observations of Mr.. Oar
win, the great scientist, are well worth
publishing in this connection. He
says:
"In producing animals for butcher
ing it is always profitable to cross ma
tive breeds with larger and more pre-
cociOus ones; providing, of course, the
feed and care are suitable to the de-
velopment of large animals. Native
animals are always a correct express
sion of the feed and care which the
farmers of a locality bestow upon
their stock, and native animals will do
better with hal feed and care than
any others, because they were pro-
duced by it and are exactly adapted
to it. Therefore, before introducing
improved stock, farmers should con
slider whether they can give them the
food and care which they require,
otherwise disappointment and loss are
almost certain.
1.-The most COMMON and profitable
use of crossing has been to improve
common breeds of animals, or rather
to transform them into the improved
breeds. This has become so common
in all parts of the country that it is
not necessary to dwell upon it; it is
never amiss, however, to remind farm