6 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



opinion at the South in relation to the advantages of wool 

 production of and sheep husbandry in that section is well 

 founded, is the direct object of our inquiry. 



This question is one of comparison. If sheep husbandry 

 may be pursued more cheaply, and as advantageously in other 

 respects, at the South, as in the present principal seats of the 

 industry, it is merely a. question of time, or of the diffusion 

 of knowledge, when the fields of the South will compete 

 with the flock pastures of the North and West ; or, rather, 

 when capital and animals will be transferred from their pres- 

 ent seats to others at the South, where wool production is 

 cheaper and more advantageous. The comparison must be 

 first made in respect to only one branch of sheep husbandry, 

 that of the pastoral or merino sheep husbandry ; that de- 

 signed for wool production chiefly, mutton-sheep husbandry 

 being subject to different conditions, which must be con- 

 sidered separately. 



Climate. The most important relation of the climate of 

 the North to sheep-growing is exhibited by the following 

 table, drawn from the reports of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, exhibiting the number of months of full and partial 

 feeding in the States named, made necessary by the severity 

 of the climate : 



A much greater range in the requirements for winter feed- 

 ing is found at the South. The months for full feeding in 

 Virginia are set down at four, and for partial feeding at two. 

 The time diminishes in both respects as we go South, until 

 in southern Georgia full feeding is required only during occa- 

 sional storms, and partial feeding from two to three months. 



