SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 457 



April, but I fear this is too favourable to the climate. I shall, 

 however, assume the ground to be covered with snow for the 

 period of two months, during which it will be necessary to feed 

 sheep artificially. Mr Grove, in the communication formerly 

 alluded to, says, one Ib. of oil-cake is equal to two Ibs. of good 

 hay; and that for twelve or thirteen years he found his &quot;flock 

 did extremely well whenever he proportioned their food accord 

 ing to nutritiousness, and in such a manner as that two Ibs. 

 of good hay would give to each animal.&quot; It may be assumed 

 that Indian corn, which weighs about sixty Ibs. per bushel, 

 is as nutritious as oil-cake for feeding sheep. An acre of In 

 dian corn therefore, yielding forty bushels, will maintain forty 

 sheep during winter, with the assistance of straw ; and if hay or 

 potatoes were given, a smaller quantity would suffice. If the 

 Indian corn were bought, and the sheep allowed one Ib. daily, 

 each would cost seven-pence halfpenny sterling for two 

 months keeping. 



Much of the prairies of Illinois cannot be stocked with 

 sheep until the different varieties of the wolf are extirpated, 

 which will be easily effected with an increase of population, 

 and it is only in the neighbourhood of well-peopled places, and 

 with care during night, that they can be safely kept at pre 

 sent. The time will, however, soon arrive when much of the 

 unsold prairies will be covered with sheep, and then perhaps 

 almost the whole surface of occupied farms will be devoted to 

 providing winter-food for the flocks. 



The value of wool is remarkable, compared with land. Sup 

 pose the fleece of a Merino sheep weighs three Ibs., and sells 

 at sixty cents per Ib., the wool of one sheep will nearly pur 

 chase an acre and a half of land. Wool could be transported 

 from Illinois to the eastern States for three or four cents a- 

 pound, and there can be no question that it costs less labour in 

 producing and carrying to market than any other agricultural 

 commodity whatever. 



The climate and soil of Illinois seem favourable to every 

 description of agriculture. The luxuriance and productiveness 

 of Indian corn has been noticed at page 394. If this crop were 

 succeeded by wheat, accompanied by clover sown in spring, the 

 herbage of which to be eaten by sheep in autumn after the 



