64 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



all the calcareous grasses adapted to a temperate climate, can be produced there 

 profitably. It isjust south of 'the tliirly-tifth degree of north latitude, and sufficient- 

 ly elevated to secure a dry, salubrious atmosphere. I thnik the malaria and disease 

 that he speaks of are easily accounted for, and will readily yield to judicious Agri- 

 culture and improvement. There are some marshy flats that can be ditched, 

 though comparatively poor; but the whole country was and is now loaded and 

 overshadowed with a most luxuriant vegetation : and to the natural decay of this 

 is added the killing and decay of heavy forests in every direction. The decay of 

 all this, hastened by the calcareous solvent spread everywhere on the surface, I 

 think is sufficient to account for the sickness, and, if true, points out the remedy 

 as sure and easy, and as being the necessary result of an improved husbandry. 



I am not so well prepared to judge of his topography and statistics, though I 

 have no doubt of their general accuracy. All that i do know would confirm his. 

 But I would sav to all inquiring minds — go and see. 



1 am, very respectfully, J. S. WHITTEN, 



To J. tr. Skinner, Esq. of Hancock, Ga. 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AFFORDING THE GREATEST ADVANTAGES FOR 

 UNDERTAKING IT ON A LARGE SCALE. 



Near Newcastle, Del. .Tune 24, 1846. 



Dear Sir : I take the liberty of addressing you a private note on a subject of 

 much importance, at least to myself, and, as 1 should suppose, to many others — 

 so that you can, if you think best, answer it publicly. 



The subject to which I allude is the growing of wool on an extensive scale, 

 and as a distinct branch of Agriculture, in the mountainous lands of Virginia, 

 Tennessee and the Carolinas. 



I address you on this subject under the impression that you possess more in- 

 formation in regard to it than any other man in the country. I have already- 

 seen several articles on this subject in the Farmers' Libraey, which furnish 

 much valuable information, but there are still several points which I should like 

 to see examined and discussed. 



I should in particular like to know the section or region of country within the 

 limits above spoken of, that in your opinion is best adapted to the purpose. 

 Where the field of choice is so wide, a person unassisted by the observation and 

 opinions of others, might easily correct a fatal error in the selection of the pre- 

 cise locality for carrying on his operations — inasmuch as a new enterprise, always 

 attended with more or less difficulties, requires a combination of all the most 

 favorable circumstances to insure its success. 



The following, I should suppose, are some of the principal circumstances 

 ■which should direct the choice: 



The price and fertility of the land ; the abundance of the natural, and its 

 adaptation to the arliiicia'l grasses ; its salubriousness with reference to the con- 

 stitution of sheep— particularly i'reedom from wet and sponginess : the climate — 

 particularly the length of time which the animals would require to be foddered 

 in winter ; together with the facilities for reaching a market. 



In regard to the length of the foddering season, the elevation, I suppose, would 

 have more influence than the latitude. Can you inform me what number of feet 

 in altitude above the sea is supposed to be equal to a degree of latitude, with re- 

 gard to the iiilluencc on climate ? 



Is it probable that sheep could be kept in ivi7iter pasturrs ? — that is, in pastures 

 that have been unstocked during sunmier, and the grass allowed to fall and lie 

 upon the ground. During a ramble in Western Virginia, last summer, I heard 

 of this plan having been successfully adopted, though not on a large scale. The 

 sheep, it was said, would readily remove the light snows, when there were any, 

 sufficiently to obtain their food. In connection with this plan, is it not probable 

 that the turnip could be used to advantage? It grows, I am told, to astonishing 

 perfection on these Virginia lands, even without the plow having been used. It 

 is sufficient to deaden the timber, and in a dry time burn the trash, and then har- 

 row in the seed upon the mellow surface. 



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