SHEEP AND WOOL-GROWING. 205 



removal to Texas and the Far West. The growing 

 of these high-priced animals must necessarily be con- 

 fined to few hands. The average farmer cannot ex- 

 pect to sell bucks at $1,000, and even at $5,000, as 

 some have been sold, or at least reported. He must 

 calculate that his Sheep are to be sold, when sold at 

 all, at prices ranging from $10 down to $5, if not 

 lower, so that mechanics and merchants may buy and 

 eat them without absolute ruin ; and .he must realize 

 that 100 pounds of Mutton at 10 cents, with 6 pounds 

 of "Wool at 30 cents, amount to more than 60 pounds 

 of Mutton at 8 cents, and 10 pounds of Wool at 60 

 cents. Farmers who grow Sheep for Mutton in this 

 vicinity, and manage to have lambs of good size for 

 sale in June or July, assure me that their profit on 

 these is greater than on almost anything else 

 their farms will produce ; and they say what they 

 know. 



The satisfactory experience of this class may be 

 repeated to-day in the neighborhood of any consider- 

 able city in the Union. Sheep-growing is no experi- 

 ment ; it is an assured and gratifying success with 

 all who understand and are fitly placed for its prose- 

 cution. "Wool may never again be so high as we 

 have known it, since the Far West and Texas can 

 grow it very cheaply, while its transportation costs 

 less than five per cent, of its value, where that of 

 Grain would be Y5 per cent. ; but Mutton is a whole- 

 some and generally acceptable meat, whereof the use 

 and popularity are daily increasing ; so that its mar- 



