SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 61 



For wool $800.00 



The increase of the flock will average 800 head ; which, 



at $1.50 per lamb, in spring, makes lambs $1,200.00 



Deduct from this $1,200, one-quarter to herder 300.00 



which leaves . 900.00 



Leaving a balance as net profit, on one flock, of $1,700.00 



or about $1,13 per head on the entire flock." 



Neuces County. There are several reports from this, the leading 

 wool-producing county in the State. 



One correspondent says : " Sheep husbandry is the leading industry ; 

 and a higher degree of intelligence is devoted to it than to any other 

 enterprise in the county." 



Another says : " I would estimate the cost of keep and profits on 

 the sheep (Spanish merino) as follows : 



1 two-year-old ewe cost $5.00. 



Per cent of profit, 25. 



" My own flock, now numbering 1,700, started 460 in 1873 (merinos 

 and Cotswold grade), has paid above per cent, of profit, or more." 



Another careful correspondent from the county of Nueces says : 

 " Rams have been imported in large numbers. Improvement is al- 

 ready far advanced. Flocks are sheltered from Nov. 15 to Feb. 1, 

 by selecting their range and night-camp on the south side of some 

 creek or prairie-timber. There is no foot-rot. Semi-annual lambing 

 is generally adopted in this county ; the February or spring crop being 

 always the most preferable. One set of ewes lamb in the spring, and 

 another set in the fall. Those who shear the best and most desirable 

 clips of wool handle their sheep in moderately large flocks of 1,000 to 

 1,200 head. Provision is only made for select sheep, such as rams. 

 Average weight of fleece, 5 pounds. Average cost of keeping, 25 to 28 

 cents. Profit, 72 to 75 cents. Where dipping has to be added, the 

 general expenses will be 3 to 4 cents per head. Good tobacco, lib- 

 erally used, invariably cures the scab; all other preparations have 



