[178] 



age elevation of East Tennessee, including the mountainous 

 portions, is not far from 1,500 feet ; of Middle Tennessee, 

 also including portions of the Cumberland plateau, 1,000 

 feet; while the elevation of West Tennessee will hardly 

 reach 500 feet, thus making a very perceptible difference in 

 the number of cold days, and in the length of time between 

 killing frosts and the consequent duration of green food. 

 It has long been a well established fact that lambs are at 

 least a month earlier in West Tennessee than in Middle, 

 which can only be attributed to the fact of milder winters 

 prevailing in West Tennessee, which induce very early 

 growth of green grass. 



Another fact is disclosed in these questions of paramount 

 value to the sheep husbandman, and that is where improved 

 breeds have been introduced, lambs bring in the market 

 nearly double the price they do where only natives or 

 low grades are bred. Not only do the lambs of well-bred 

 sheep pay better, but the wool commands a readier sale at 

 increased prices. It must be borne in mind that the prices 

 given in this schedule were those of 1878, when wool was 

 at its minimum price. Since that time there have been a 

 wonderful improvement in price, and a much greater stim- 

 ulus given to sheep husbandry. 



The answers given to the question as to the yield of wool 

 are not so gratifying. While the high grades yield from 

 six to twelve pounds, the amount reported from the native 

 sheep varies from one to four pounds. Here is the field for 

 improvement. Our native flocks must be bred up until 

 they shall make an average of at least five pounds per head. 

 The demand for wool will, in all probability, be greatly in- 

 creased during the next few years, and our farmers should 

 seize the opportunity to increase the wool- producing quali- 

 ties of their flocks. 



The want of woolen factories is also made painfully con- 

 spicuous in the replies to the interrogatory asking for in- 

 formation on that subject. Only sixteen are given, and yet 



