SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



merely nominal, as they cannot be obtained for beyond a small portion of 

 the annual crop. They do not, therefore, form a proper basis for correct 

 general estimates. 



The expenses and losses in keeping sheep, not already alluded to, are 

 all set down below, as high as they will average on well managed farms. 



/>r. $ cts. 



100 Sheep to interest on purchase money.... 14 00 



To int. on 33i acres of land at $20 per acre 4'! M> 



" curing and storing luiy on il acres of above. 13 75 



" expense of shearing 4 00 



" salt, tar and summer care 4 00 



" labor of foddering, &.c., during winter, say. 5 00 

 " loss by death 2 per cent, above the value of 



pulled wool ' 4 00 



Total $9T4i 



Cr. 



By ;JOO Ibs. of Wool, at 39 4-7 cts per lb.ll* 7 L 3-7 



' 80 lambs at SI per head 80 00 



" 40 2-horse loads of winter manure at 



50 cents per load 20 00 



" summer manure, calling it only equal 



to shearing and summer care* 8 00 



Total... ...$- 7K^7 



Balance $135 30 3-7 



Making the net profit of $4 05, or 20^ per cent, per acre on lands 

 worth $20. 



Since the passage of the Tariff of 1846, there has evidently been a panic 

 among the wool-growers of New- York, and the rise in bread-stuffs, beef, 

 pork, and dairy products, occasioned by the change in the British Tariff, 

 and the famine which has prevailed in Europe by reason of the short crops 

 of 1846, has tended farther to depreciate sheep, by offering inducements 

 supposed to be very strong, to embark in branches of husbandry furnish- 

 ing the former staples.! Sheep are consequently cheaper than they ever 

 were before. Prime grade sheep, bearing wool of as good quality as the 

 average of that embraced in Table 7, have in some instances sold for ten 

 shillings per head, and coarse common sheep for one dollar lambs half a 

 dollar making, in the ordinary proportion between lambs and grown 

 sheep, about 75 cents per head, taking a flock through ! 



Wool of the quality embraced in Table 7 has fallen to an average of say 

 31 cents. Under the impression that sheep and wool have reached their 

 minimum prices, | it becomes an interesting subject of inquiry whether 

 they can yet be produced, at a profit, in New- York. The following figures 

 I. think, will fairly show : 



Making $2 59, or nearly 13 per cent, net profit per acre on lands worth 820. 



In the preceding estimates I have only regarded the profit of sheep hus- 

 bandry, as it has averaged for a series of years, among those possessing 

 good ordinary flocks. 



* I place the summer manure, undoubtedly, considerably below its actual value. No experienced farmer 

 Will say that good solid sheep manure is worth less than 50 cents per load, and as the summer manure j 

 at. least equal in quantity, and is deposited immediately on the land, I see no reason why it is not equallj 

 valuable. 



t That the diminution of English duties on these staples will give them a better and steadier market, there 

 en be little doubt ; but not the very high one of the past season, occasioned by the severe famine which 

 has prevailed in many parts of Great Britain. Many, therefore, who have sacrificed their sheep, reckoning 

 on such prices, will probably find that they have "reckoned without their host." 



I I say this under the decided impression that our wools, at this price, if properly washed and put up, 

 would triumphantly compete in the foreign markets with those of the wool-growing nations of Europe; 

 *nd even with those of Australia, the Cnpe of Good Hope, and other Austro-orjental regions. For a more 

 lull examination of this point, see Appendix D 



