SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 63 



one-third of their consumption. I would say that sixty -five cents a 

 head would cover every possible contingency or cost in sheep hus- 

 bandry, per annum, in this section. As I have said, if the farmers are 

 to keep the protection they now have against the producers of foreign 

 wools, there is no more profitable industry that any one who will put 

 his attention to the business can be engaged in. 



Yours truly, 



W. R. KELLUM. 

 i 



Another of our own correspondents writes as follows : 



HOUSTON, TEXAS, Jan. 9, 1878. 



DEAR SIR, I have had long experience in sheep husbandry in 

 the San Joaquin and Santa Barbara country, and also in Los Angeles, 

 California. I know well Colonel Hollister, Mr. Dibbles, of California, 

 and other prominent wool-growers there. I was also for a time in Utah j 

 also, in Western Texas, which I regard as the best country for the 

 industry with which I am acquainted, if life and property were only 

 secure against Mexican depredations. The climate, for man and beast, 

 is unrivalled ; the feed, rich and unfailing all the year round. No 

 country I know of could so well sustain the large flocks which, from 

 various causes, are being broken up in California. 



In a parallel drawn north from Laredo to the Indian Territory, there 

 is the best location for the industry, in my judgment, in the country. 

 But, until Uncle Sam will protect us there, the life of the shepherd and 

 his flocks are in constant jeopardy from the Mexicans. These thieves 

 and marauders operate in a regularly systematic way; being fitted out 

 and encouraged by the wealthy Mexicans living on or near the border, 

 who for years have been at the bottom of all the border troubles, from 

 their desire for annexation to this country. Their purpose constantly 

 is to provoke a war ; believing the result will be annexation, when they 

 will then have *a stable government, which they know they never will 

 have under any Mexican leader. . . . 



There are other very fine fields for this industry near Corpus Christi, 

 San Antonio, north and south of Dallas ; but the finest section in this 

 country, in my judgment, must remain idle, unless, as I have said, the 

 government will give protection. 



S. W. PIPKIN. 



Statements of Mr. SJiaeffer. After the above notes had 

 been put in press, the writer enjoyed the privilege of several 

 personal interviews at Washington with Mr. F. W. Shaeffer, 



