SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 59 



husbandry of Texas, like those so kindly furnished us by Mr. 

 Peters and Colonel Watts in relation to Georgia and South 

 Carolina. In their absence, we must content ourselves mainly 

 with giving extracts from the Texas correspondents with the 

 Department of Agriculture. Although fragmentary in their 

 character, they will, perhaps, present a more exact picture of 

 the general sheep husbandry of the State than could be given 

 by more elaborate and better-arranged statements. 



We give the extracts at hazard, and without reference to 

 the geographical position of the counties, or their bearing 

 upon any particular question in sheep husbandry. In order 

 to preserve the piquancy of the statements, the exact language 

 of the correspondents is given in all cases. The correspon- 

 dents, it will be remembered, are selected by the Department 

 from the most intelligent agriculturists residing in the several 

 counties. 



A correspondent from Palo Pinto County writes : 



"A sheep-raiser for several years says: Say for 1,000 head, it will 

 cost $300 for herding; extra help in lambing time, $30; salt, $15; 

 cost of shearing, $50 ; feed during winter, $200. We imagine the 

 Georgia Bureau of Agriculture knows but little about large herds 

 of sheep, as they are grown on prairie grass. They are accus- 

 tomed to herds of from 10 to 100 head. Such flocks are not neces- 

 sary to be herded, and yield a fine profit. If we make it a specialty, 

 and put 500 to 1,000 in a herd, which is common here, they will not 

 pay so well. The figures, made on paper, will show them to pay better 

 than any thing else. But a very little experience shows the figures 

 quite an error. Small herds here will pay very well, and much better 

 than large, when they are so large as to require a herder." 



Navarro County. "I have been engaged," says the correspondent, 

 "in sheep-raising for fourteen years. In this and all the old, settled 

 prairie counties, 300 to 400 sheep do well. 100 per cent gross profit 

 is a fair statement. The profit diminishes 10 per cent per 100 head, 

 as you go over 100. My flock has ranged from 300 to 1,000. I put 

 up annually 100 pounds of prairie hay and one bushel of cotton seed 

 to the sheep, and have good shelter provided." 



Goliad County. This correspondent, Hon. Prior Lea, the writer 

 has the pleasure of knowing personally to be entitled to great confi- 

 dence. " Cost and profit of growing wool may be estimated in two 



