The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-06
Live Stock on the Farm.

OOuCnCIIl OullIVdIOl WllICo do 1O1lOWS. .
In my last letter [ said that sheep
were the most profitable for the farm
er, with the exception Of Angora
goats, Berkshire hogs, if location and
soils are suitable; these may pay bet
ter, but think I should have included
turkeys and chickens also.
Sheep will thrive on all dry soils,
the richest and that nearly barren
under proper management and care
English and Irish farmers find they
pay the best, and the surest standby
for their rents and on lands that
would readily sell for $500 to $1,000
per acre, they also find that by the
use of sheep they can bring up the
fertility of mountain soils worth from
$40 to 500 per acre to the value for
four to five hundred dollars per acre,
and while growing these crops an,
enriching this soil, get good returns
for those crops and labor besides.
It is therefore no wonder that the
number Of sheep in Great Britain is
yearly increasing and that a strong
competition exists between those flock
owners to have the best and carry
off the prizes so literally given for
sheep by all the Agricultural Societies
in those countries; this includes Eng
land. Ireland and Scotland The
English and Irish owners have no
fear Of competition the world over,
Merinos excepted, as I have never
known Of this breed there. 7 will
now show in part of how sheep pay.
Their wool is always ready cash COM
ing in from the middle of April to
the middle of May, and worth at
low average one dollar and seventy
five cents per head, and only for the
average focks kept there. Next we
should have fat lambs in the market
from the first of June to the middle
Of August worth from S. to SO per
head: I have known men to buv
small flock of good ewes in the fall
and from their lambs pay for all
moneys invested, and feed, and have
the ewes and wool clear profit, and
this accomplished in ten months. The
feed Of twelve ewes is considered
equal to that of a dairy COW. T am
a great friend Of the dairv COW, but
| will take the twelve ewes anv time.
feed them and care for them. for their
returns. Therefore I believe 7 can
say that there is no investment that
Will give as quick returns, as great
proht' and as free from loss as that
from sheep. Thev are cleaners and
scavengers, and if given the run of
the stubbles and other places after
harvest while weeds are short and
tender. will clean up and free those
heIds from weeds as no other animal
Will and see how they grow and fat
ten IN such places The sheen indns-
try IS in its infancy in this country.
vet | find the American people on1v
now form1no a taste for mutton. and
where 1t could not be sold few
wears hack there is now fair de-
mand tor this most nutritious and
hea.lthful of all meats. Tt now re-
mains for the farmers to encouraoe
this taste by supp1ving the markets
with good Dalatah1e mutton and not
stick to those dirty, grea sv-Aeshed
scrubs that 75 per cent Of them keep.
" IN ny previous letter I showed that
the Shropshire downs were the lead,
eerS OF all the black and tan-faced
breeds as wool and mutton sheep
combined They must hustle. though.
It thew compare with the white breeds
in this line.
First. I must say that all the black
faced breeds are c1assed as short
woods. and all Of the white sheep as
lono woods, so that in further refer
eence this NAV be understood Of the
lone woods there are several distinct
breeds. each claiming some particular