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average fertility. The account with an acre of corn would be about as 



follows : 



Plowing and planting $2 00 



Cultivating and harvesting 2 50 



$4 50 



Twenty bushels at 50c. per bushel, $10 leaving a profit of $5.50 per acre. 

 With an acre of wheat it would stand: 



Seed $1 00 



Plowing and sowing 2 00 



Harvesting and threshing 85 



$3 85 



Eight bushels, at $1 per bushel, $8 leaving a profit of $4.15 per acre. 

 The same land would support five sheep to every two acres : 



Wool, 4 Ibs. per head, at 40c. per Ib $8 00 



Four lambs, at $1.50 per head 6 00 



$14 00 

 Expense at 60c. per head 3 00 



$11 00 



Leaving a profit of $5.50 per acre, being equal to that of corn, and ex- 

 ceeding that of wheat by $1.35 per acre. 



Our estimates of the profits of the corn and wheat are full high, larger 

 than will be generally realized; that of the sheep full low, much less 

 than would be realized with good sheep and proper management. 



Another method of estimation is the rates at which sheep are loaned. 

 In some States it is quite common for moneyed men to let out flocks of 

 sheep to those having less means. Sometimes a flock of ewes is thus 

 loaned, to double in four years, being a rental of 25 per cent, per annum. 

 More frequently they are let for two pounds of wool per head annually, 

 returning the original number. If the ewe is worth three dollars, and 

 wool forty cents per pound, this would give a rental of 26| per cent, per 

 annum. 



No man can rent land at 25 per cent, of its value per acre, keep it up, 

 and, after a series of years, reiurn it in as good condition as when re- 

 ceived. A clear interest of ten per cent, would make land the most profit- 

 able investment that could be made. 



All of these estimates show that sheep-husbandry is more profitable 

 than grain. But we are satisfied that in this climate, with good breeds of 

 sheep and with the right management, our lands can be made to yield at 

 the least fifty per cent more than our estimate. We have assumed our 

 sheep to yield four pounds; they can be easily made to reach six and 

 eight pounds. We have assumed that our lands can carry but two and 

 one-half sheep to the acre; they can carry three. We have assumed that 



