SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH 



in latitude 29 50', it is 92 ; at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, Florida, in 

 latitude 27 51', it is 92 ; and at Key West, the most southern possession of 

 the United States, it is 89 ! 



It will thus be seen that the summer heat rises higher at Fort Snelling 

 chan at points on the sea-board more than 20 farther South ! 



Now let us compare their winter temperature. The minimum tempera* 

 ture of Fort Snelling is 26.* That at Washington is -f 9 ; Old Point 

 Comfort 4. 20 ; Fort Johnston + 28 ; Fort Moultrie + 21 ; St. Augus- 

 ine-f-39 ; Tampa Bay + 35; Key West + 52! So the greatest cold 

 of Fort Snelling is 35 below that of Washington the most northern and 

 by far the coldest of these posts and it is actually 78 below that of a post, 

 (Key West), which its summer heat exceeds by four degrees ! 



At Fort Howard, latitude 44 40', the seasons are even more violently 

 contrasted. Its maximum heat is 98, its minimum 25. At Rock Island, 

 111 , latitude 41 28' we have already seen that the maximum is 96, the 

 minimum 10; and at Council Bluffs, latitude 41 45', the maximum 

 104, the minimum 16 ! At Petite Quoquille, neai New-Orleans, the 

 maximum is but 94, the minimum -f- 30 4 



And an examination of the monthly variations in temperature, at our 

 North-western posts, will show that these are as excessive, in proportion, 

 as those of the year and their suddenness can scarcely be credited by 

 an inhabitant of southern regions more particularly those bordering oil 

 the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.f 



It cannot be said that Fort Snelling, or Rock Island, or Council Blufis, 

 have the summers of Italy or the South of France for the weather is 

 much hotter at intervals, and is subject to far more frequent, abrupt and 

 violent changes than in the latter: nor have these posts winters as mild as 

 those of Europe, many degrees farther north .J And their winter exhibits 

 the same sudden and violent changes which characterize the summer 

 climate. 



These facts, in my judgment, fully explain the remarkable mortality hi 

 the flocks which have been carried on the prairies, and which is usually 

 attributed to over-driving, poisoning, &c. The climate itself, though not 

 always a rapid, will prove one of the surest of poisons, unless great care 

 imch greater than is requisite even on the bleak and sterile hills of New- 

 .England is taken to protect them from its deleterious influences. 



Facts sufficient have been adduced, probably, to convince every South 

 ern man how much he has to fear, ultimately, from prairie competition, in 

 the production of wool. Having thus attempted to measure the capabili- 

 ties of the various regions of our own country for the cheap production 

 of this staple, it may be well to turn our eyes to the comparative advan- 

 tages of other countries and nations and to ask the question whether 

 Jh^re is any danger to the domestic producer from foreign competition. 

 This can be done but briefly and rapidly in the limits which I have assigned 

 to myself. 



It will not be necessary for the purposes of the present inquiry, to ex- 

 amine the climate, flora, &c., of all portions of the world. The wool- 

 producing countries those which have natural advantages to enable them 

 to produce wool cheaply enough, and in sufficient quantities, to stand any 

 chance in the general competition, are mainly embraced in a belt or region 



[* It will be understood that the sign before the number of decree?, indicates that it is that number of 

 degrees belov Zero, and the sign -j- used here, in the preceding Table, and in the subsequent paragraph, tc 

 avoid confusion, signifies above Zero. Publisher.} 



t In the Report of the Fishing: Creek Agricultural Society, of your State, 1843, the Committee actuallj 

 complain of the variableness of the c'imate ! Truly, 'we can only judge by comparison !' 



1 The mean winter temperature of North Cape in Norway, latitude 71, ia 23 72 that of Fort SneUin 

 15* 95- thai of Council Bluffs, 24 47 that of Rock Island, 26O 86. 



