60 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



ways. Crediting increase of sheep as equal to all cost, the wool would 

 be net profit ; and this, at least, is claimed by many persons. Without 

 crediting increase for more than enough to maintain the flock equal to 

 its primitive condition, a practical estimate for cost, considering every 

 kind of item, might be from 10 to 12 cents per pound of unwashed 

 wool, averaging 17 cents in market. This latter mode gives broad 

 margin for contingencies." 



Brandon County. " Cost of keeping sheep, about 25 cents per 

 head; profit, 30 cents to $1.00, exclusive of increase." 



Another ; same county. " One flock of 800 cost, for shepherd and 

 salt, $275 ; net profit, including wool and increase, 31 per cent." 



Aransas County. " Cost of keep, 10 per cent; profit, 50 to 60 per 

 cent on capital. Mr. P.'s flock average 50 per cent of its total value 

 as profit. About 100,000 sheep in the county, mostly improved 

 merinos." 



Beurre County. " One-half in farms under cultivation ; all the 

 rest a complete pasture. Sheep-raisers say this is the best county they 

 ever saw." 



Ccdlahan County. " Flock of 2,000. 20 cents per head cost. 

 Profit by wool, 40 cents per head." 



Fort Bend County. " 250,000 sheep could be raised in this county. 

 One-quarter in cultivation. All the rest adapted for sheep-pasture, 

 yet no sheep worth mentioning : all cattle and cotton. At close of 

 war, sheep-raising began to decline, owing to depreciation of price of 

 wool. A reaction has now taken place : extensive pastures are now 

 being enclosed ; improved breeds are introduced." 



Kendall County. " Mr. B. has 1,000 head of sheep. Shears, 5,000 

 pounds of wool ; at 28 cents, $1,400 ; cost of keep, $325 : profit, 

 $1,075." 



Another ; same county. "A successful sheep-raiser says : ' I com- 

 menced with 220 ewes, three years ago ; and have sold sufficient of the 

 flock to make an increase of 100 per cent, per year, average ; and the 

 wool has averaged for that time from 75 cents to $1, annually.' " 



Lavaca County. " Mr. S. B. M. has a flock of 1,500 head, let out 

 to a herder on shares ; and, therefore, furnishes a pretty fair sample 

 as to profits. He gives the herder one-quarter of the wool and one- 

 quarter of the annual increase, that is, the actual increase. He fur- 

 nishes the salt, sheep dip, &c. The herder pays all other expenses, 

 except shearing ; and pays one-quarter of this amount. This makes 

 the yield to the owner, 



