Year: 1875

Sheep Husbandry in Delaware.


From the U. 8. Economist:


In previous communication to your
paper stated that from my own know
ledge, and from information got from
my neighbors, that sheep husbandry
would pay in our section Of the country
much better than any other branch Of
agricultural pursuits carried on in our
locality. Ia that instance I gave the
account only Of those persons who were
in the habit Of buying Western ewes in
the Summer and Fall seasons and keep
ing them until the following Summer.
and then, after raising their lambs,
feeding them of for the butcher. |
think in the communication referred to
I showed to any unprejudiced mind that
that method Of sheep husbandry would
pay. Now | will give you an example
Of an English sheep husbandman who
came to this country some four or five
years since, and brou,ht with him at
that time some thirty odd thousand dol
lars in gold, also wife and dozen Or
more fine healthy children and if some
Of that croaking Paternity styling them
selves "The National Association Of
Wooden Manufacturers and Wool Grow
ers' would just take trip to the Dia-
mond State and look at his sheep and
farm, and ask him few questions in
reference to the pro6tableness of sheep
husbandry, and listen to his replies to
their questions, they would come to the
conclusion that sheep husbapdry could
be carried on proftably in this country
without protection, and would also con-
clude that they themselves were set
ofgreat fools-or otherwise they thought
The rest Of the people ofrsr .coaptFy
were-and that they under the circum-
stances could make the people believe
Just what they pleased. Now let me
give you my friend, VIM. Homewood's.
Esq, experience in sheep husbandry in
Delaware. He has q farm Of some
three hundred acres purchased at the
rate Of about 800 per acre. upon one
field Of which when be bought it three
years since be could not keep one sheep
Der acre without giving feed from other
portions Of his farm, and the first sea-
son the sheep which be kept in that
field netted him at the rate Of s. per
acre the frst year and without sipgle
cent Of money spent for fsrtilissfa or
any other manuring, except the keep
ing Of bis sheep upon It. That field
now keeps two sheep to the acre, or 100
skeep op, that field Of so acres. There
fore, il when. that field would not keep
so sheep it netted 81 per acre, it is
easily to be seen what profit he is get
ting now, not to say snything about
the increased value Of his land. But
while this field is paying him SO we'll
with so small an amount Of outlay. the
balance Of his farm requires an immense
amount Of labor and does not yield any
thing like the amount Of profit. He
has now upon his farm some 200 sheep
Of the Gnestquality Of wool for comb
ing purposes. He says it pays him
best to raise his own stock, and for
which purpose be has travelled over our
country and Canada in search Of the
finest bucks that be can get for breed
ing from and improving his stock. His
wethers at year old for ughtering
will bring him ten dollars each, while
he has supply Of bucks for sale for
improving the sheep Of our country.


He says bis present flock will aver
age six to seven pounds Of wool (wash-
ed) per sheep. which. at the present
price, say from so to 65 cents, is easily
calculated. His lambs will sell readily
when ready for sale at six dollars each.
He says he intends to still further i'm
prove bis field BY continuing pasturing
it, and eventually. expects tofarm for
wheat. corn. oats, &c but small por-
tion Of his land, yet from that small
portion be expects greater amount
than be now gets. the balance to be in
grass for pasturing sheep. He asserts
that by proper attention in the stock
raised from he is getting much harder
race Of sheep. He tells me that he has
about fifty Western sheep, bought in
the Fall, and which at the present time
require housing, while his home raised
sheep are out in the field at all times,
both night and day. He tells me that
be made his money at sheep raising 10
Kent, England on land for which be paid
93 sterling rent, and sold bis wool clean
washed at an average Of 20 pence per
pound, or about two-t thirds the price Of
such wools in our country at the pre-
sent time, and that was done ia coun-
try where there was no protection for
the wool growers. And yet the small
territory Of England, with her high
priced land, can raise as much wool,
and at the present time has as many
sheep - all]ths United States, and can
make money At it and sell it in compe-
tition with the cheapest products Of the
world j III this were not 50 il could not
be sold in the English markets, for
they are opsn and free to all the wool
producers Of the world With the ex-
ample set by my friend Homewood, all
our farmers are making inquiry into
the business, and are now making an
effort through onr Legislature for pro-
lection, but not against foreign aoool
gro,oers, but in the shape Of good law
to protect our sheep from destruction
by dogs. WIN. DEAN.


NEWARK, Del. Jan. -. rs.


The Usafnl Horse and a Walkinr