414 
the community were being supplied with delicious beans of a second 
crop from seed sent out by the Department last spring. ; 
VALUE OF AUTHENTIC INFORMATION.—Our correspondent in Will- 
iamson, Texas, sent to the Department for examination a specimen of 
bat-excrement found in a cave near Georgetown, in that county. The 
results of a chemical analysis were published in our monthly report for 
June. As one consequence, the cave, which was bought one year ago 
for $200, has recently been sold for $1,500. 
SHEEP-FARMING IN OREGON.—Mr. 8. G. Reed, of Portland, Oregon, at 
the request of the Commissioner, has furnished some very interesting 
facts in regard to sheep-husbandry in that State. He has raised a flock of 
pure-blood Cotswolds and Leicesters, the former imported from England 
in 1871, and the latter from New Zealand. He has found the climatic and 
other conditions in Oregon very favorable to sheep-raising. The aggre- 
gate weight of five average Cotswold ewes, March 30, 1876, amounted 
to 1,091 pounds, or 218.2 per head; five average Leicester ewes, at the 
same time, aggregated 991 pounds, or 198.2 each. In 1874, the fleece of 
the Cotswolds averaged 14 pounds and of the Leicesters 13 pounds; in 
1875, 134 pounds and 114 pounds ; in 1876, 124 pounds and 103 pounds. 
In the spring of 1876, the Cotswold ewes produced 220 per cent. of lambs 
and the Leicesters 145 per cent. An acre of perennial rye-grass will 
carry five large Cotswold sheep through the year. The wool is excel- 
lent for combing, and commands the highest price in market. 
Mr. Reed incloses an article on sheep-farming in Oregon, written by 
Mr. William Watson, in which the adaptation of Eastern Oregon and 
Eastern Washington for sheep-raising is claimed to be unsurpassed by 
any of the great sheep-raising countries of the world. Pasturage of 
native grasses is abundant and nutritious, with ample supplies of 
water. The atmosphere is pure and balmy. No malaria lurks in the 
air, and atmospheric disturbances are few and not severe. Men of 
small capital will find chances of profitable settlement. A section of 
land, 640 acres, may be purchased at $750 to $1,000, with some improve- 
ments. But outside of this area a vast surface of unappropriated pas- 
turage promises abundant food for live stock. Government lands are 
regarded as free quarters by settlers. A shepherd should be employed 
for every 2,000 head or less. 
A flock embracing 2,000 ewes, at $3 per head, would cost about $6,000 
for the female breeding-animals. During the first year the loss on stock 
will be covered, on an average, by 5 per vent. of the investment, or $300; 
the wages of a shepherd, at $40 per month, would amount to $480 per 
annum ; extra help at lambing-time, $50; board of hands, $450 per an- 
num; extra shearing, at 8 cents per head, $160; wool-bags, $100; haul- 
ing wool to market, $100; total, $1,640. Per contra, the first year’s clip, 
5 pounds per head, at 25 cents per pound, would amount to $2,500 ; 
1,800 lambs, at $2 per head, $3,600; total $6,100, leaving a net profit of 
$4,460, or 77 per cent., on the cost of the ewes. This estimate makes no 
allowance for scab, which no sheep-raiser should permit to infect his 
flock. It can be easily checked by prompt and intelligent treatment in 
that climate. Winter-feed will also require some outlay, in addition, 
but the hay-crop can be made on the spot, at comparatively little cost. 
These figures refer to the class of animals common in Eastern Oregon. 
The breeds here are a mingling of Cotswold, Southdown, Merino, ete. 
An intelligent method of breeding would soon develop a fixed type, 
suited to the economic demands of the country. Mutton-production 
should be combined with wool-production. Probably a cross between 
the Leicester and the Merino, giving a medium-sized sheep, with a heavy 
fleece and good mutton, will meet the requirements 
