462 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



merely nominal, as they cannot be obtained for beyond a small portion of 

 the annual crop. They do not, therefore, form a proper basis for conect 

 general estimates. 



The expenses and losses in keeping sheep, not already alluded to, are 

 all set down below, as high as they will average on well managed farms. 



JJr. 



$ els. 



100 Kheep to interest on purchase money 14 00 



To int. on 33} acres of land at $20 per acre 46 66 



" curing and storing iLiyonllacresof above. 13 75 



" expense of shearing 4 00 



" salt, tar and summer care 4 00 



" litlior of foddering', ifcc., during winter, say. 5 00 

 " loss by death 2 per cent, above the value of 



pulled wool 4 00 



Total ^li 



•S ct*. 



13y 300 lbs. of Wool, at :i'J 4-7 cts. per Ib.lln 71 3-7 



■• 80 lambs at 61 per head 80 00 



" 40 2horse loads of winter msmure at 



50 cents per load 20 GO 



" summer manure, calling it only equal 



to shearing and summer care* 8 00 



Total $226 713-7 



Balance $ll35 30 3-7 



Making the net profit of $4 05, or 201 per cent, per acre on lands 

 worth $20. 



Since the passage of the Tariff of 1846, there has evidently been a panic 

 among the wool-gi'owers of New- York, and the lise in bread-stuffs, beef, 

 pork, and dairy products, occasioned by the change in the British Tariff, 

 and the famine which has prevailed in Europe by reason of the short crops 

 of 1846, has tended farther to depreciate sheep, by ofl'ering inducements 

 supposed to be very strong, to embark in branches of husljandry furnish- 

 intr the former staples.f Sheep are consequently cheaper than they ever 

 were before. Prime grade sheep, bearing wool of as good quality as the 

 average of that embraced in Table 7, have in some instances sold for ten 

 shillini^s per head, and coarse common sheep for one dollar — lambs half a 

 dollar — making, in the ordinary proportion between lambs and gi'own 

 sheep, about 75 cents per head, taking a flock through ! 



Wool of the quality embraced in Table 7 has fallen to an average of say 

 31 cents. Under the impression that sheep and wool have reached their 

 minimum prices, | it becomes an interesting subject of inquiry whether 

 they can yet be produced, at a profit, in New-York. The following figures, 

 I think, will fairly show : 



Di\ $ i;<.s. 



Sheep, to interest on purchase money, at 



$1 25 per head 8 75 



int. on 33i acres of land at $20 per acre. .46 66 

 cutting, curing and storing hay on 11 acres 



of above 13 75 



expense of shearing 4 00 



tar, salt and summer care 4 00 



labor of foddeiing, &c. during winter, say. 5 00 

 loss by death 2 per ct. above the value of 



pulled wool 2 50 



Total $84 66 



CV. $ cts. 



By 300 ll)s of Wool, at 31 cents per pound... 93 00 



" 80 lambs, at 62} cents per head 50 00 



" 40 2-horse loads of winter manure, at 50 



cents per load 20 00 



" Eummor manure, calling it only e<iual to 



shearing and summer care 8 00 



Total $171 00 



l?alance > 86 34 



Making $2 59, or nearly 13 per cent, net profit per acre on lands worth #20. 



In the preceding estimates I have only regarded the j)rofit of sheep hus- 

 bandry, as it has averaged for a series of years, among those possessing 

 good ordinary fltjcks. 



' I place the summer manure, undoubtedly, considerably below its actual value. No experienced farmer 

 will say that good solid shec?)) manure is worth less than 50 C(>nts per load, and as ihe summer manure '.s 

 at least equal in quantity, and is deposited immediately on tlie land, I see no reason why it is not equally 

 valuable. 



t That the diminution of English duties on these staples will give them a better and steadier market, there 

 can be little doubt ; but not the very hi/fh one of the past season, occasioned by the severe famine which 

 has prevailed in many parts of (Ireat Brintin. Many, therefore, who have sacrificed their sheep, reckoning 

 on i>uch prices, will probably timl that they have "reckoned Without their hos^L" 



f I say this under the decided impression that our wools, at this ^VKC, if properly washed and put np^ 

 ■Would triumphantly compete in the foreign markets with tho=e of the wool-growing nations of Europe ; 

 and vvr.a with those of Australia, Ihe Cape of Good Hope, and other Austro-oriental regions, for » more 

 lull examination of this point, ee« Appendi.x U. 

 (942) 



