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to grazing and feeding, and salting, with shelter during inclement seasons, 

 my flock has kept quite healthy. 



I do not believe such profits can be realized upon sheep on a large 

 scale, or even with a smaller number, if the husbandman relies upon the 

 breed alone (to make his profits) without giving them proper care and 

 attention. But I am sure that the farmer of Tennessee who will use 

 ordinary judgment in making his selections, and ordinary care in hand- 

 ling his flock, adapting the same to the capacity of his farm, will reap a 

 greater profit in proportion to the capital invested, than from any other 

 source. His flock will be to him better than Government or State bonds, 

 returning to him annually, or semi-annually if he desires it, coupon 

 fleece, far exceeding in interest any Government or State bond, with no 

 fear of repudiation constantly staring him in the face, and with the 

 proud consolation that it is the result of his own care and attention, and 

 not wrung from the sweat and blood of the toiling millions. 



AMNICOLA, Feb. 5, 1878. 



FKOM D. M. JONES, SHARON, TENNESSEE. 



J. B. KILLEBREW, Commissioner, etc., 



Dear Sir I received your circular at a late date. In reply I will say, 

 sheep raising is much neglected, taking our facilities into consideration. 

 Permit me to speak a few words from experience. Last winter was the 

 hardest on stock we have had for several years, and I personally know of 

 a flock of sheep that ran in the woods all winter, without feed or atten- 

 tion, but am not able to state the loss. In May my attention was directed 

 to a portion of said flock, numbering fifty-two head, old sheep, ewes and 

 wethers, with fourteen nice young lambs, with a good prospect of raising 

 them, the older lambs having died before vegetation afforded sufficient 

 grazing for the ewes. 



I estimate the wintering on cotton seed and crushed corn six months 

 through the winter at 75 cents each, giving them all they will eat, in con- 

 nection with rye and other winter grazing. 



In August last I purchased one pair of sheep, of J. B. 

 Hill, Franklin, which cost $17.00. I then selected 

 32 scrub ewes at $1.50 each. Total cost of stock.... $65 00 



Wintering 33 head at $1.00 each 33 00 



Interest on $98.00 at 10 per cent 6 50 



$104 50 



Lost one ewe from natural causes, one by abortion, one 

 killed by accident, one from castration, and two 

 lambs when three days old. Now on hand 65 head. 



Value of buck $17 00 



31 old ewes and 12 wether lambs at $1.50 each 64 50 



16 ewe lambs at $2.00 each, and 5 bucks at $3.50 49 50 



Wool clippled from 32 ewes and buck, 131 J Ibs., at 25c. 33 63 



$164 63 



Net gain $ 60 13 



