The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-09
William Archer, of States
vile, Enthusiastic Over
the Opportunities
Offered.
HAS PURCHASED LARGE TRACT
OF LAND NEAR FLoRALA, AND
GIVES HIS VIEWS AS TO HOW
THE BEST RESULTS CAN BE OBJ
TANNED, :. .,.-au

Sheep husbandry invest Florida
and South Alabama is now attracting
much attention, and has resulted in
one of the most successful and extern
Sive breeders of Merlne, sheep in the
south purchasing large tract of land
near Florala for this industry. Will
liam Archer, of Statesvilie, n. c., who
has followed the occupation of sheep
husbandry and wool growing in vari-
Gus states, has invested in a 720-acre
tract of land northeast of Florala,
where he proposes to Craze 1000 sheep
as a beginning to what he hopes to
make one of the largest sheep ranches
in the south.
MIR. Archer was recently in Pensa-
cola. and was enthusiastic over the op-
portunities offered by this section for
this industry, and when asked for his
experience in the business, which COW
cred nearly fifty years, said:
Il have been in every state in the
south, and within the past eight weeks
carefully looked over South Alabama
and West Florida and | must
repeat what l have always said, that
the whole south is more or less adap-
ted to the industry than other sec
tons, and | believe that there is a
bright future in store for the bust
ness.
AS to the breed of sheep that will
thrive best 1 believe that it will prove
advisable to cross the sheep now
roaming the fields with blooded ami
mails brought here. 4 general intro
duction OF northern sheep would prove
DISASTROUS. l will bring south the fin
est breed of Merinos which are also
good mutton sheep. OF course wool
will be the first consideration, and the
mutton product will follow Besides
this the Merino has proved itself the
most healthy under all, and especially
adverse, conditions, but | would not
be selfish and discourage anyone
whose idea is to breed the coarse wool
sheep. Any kind of an improved
sheep, however, is far better than
these wild ones"
What improvement will your Me,
rino sheep make on these common
Sheep" was asked.
They will increase the first cross
twenty per cent and fifty to- one hun
dred per cent will result from breed.
ing to our good Ones" he replied
THAT is, the offspring of those now
weighing 70 pounds should weigh sc
pounds which. at the low price of 3
cents per pound would be $500 as
compared with $2.75 each and for WOO
S1.OO each as compared with SIZE
each, or to the people own say 10000
sheep along above the gulf, an increase
of $150,000 year. This is no greater
improvement than we made on the
Mexican sheep of the southwest
which has in its turn developed into
the great pastoral focks of the whole
Rocky Mountain region.
Mr.. Archer, in your opinion. would
the development Of this sheep indus
try among us retard or limit the cot
ton industry in the south? asked The
reporter.
1T will do neither, but on the con
trary will promote it if properly man
aged. Without explaining in detail
in an experiment with two acres OF
cotton on my farm at Statesville, y
c., made two bales of cotton grow
where but one grew the year before
with the use of strong sheep manure
distributed along in the rows as We
bedded down in which 10 plant tn
cotton. This can be done by any far
mer who will keep and care for sheer
and carefully use the feTtilizing ele
ments to be had from them. | re
gard this as very important matteI
to be taken up by the people of thi:
new country before the lands are ex