SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 83 



in latitude 29'^ 50', it is 92° ; at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, Florida, in 

 latitude 27° 57', it is 92° ; and at Key West, the most southern possession of 

 the United States, it is 89° ! 



It will thus be seen that the summer heat rises higher at Fort Snelling 

 than at points on the sea-board more than 20° farther South ! 



Now let us compare their winter temperature. The minimum tempera- 

 ture of Fort Snelling is — 26°.* That at Washington is + 9° ; Old Point 

 Comfort -f- 20° ; Fort Johnston + 28° ; Fort Moulti-ie + 21° ; St. Augus- 

 ine + 39°; Tampa Bay + 35°; Key West + 52°! So the greatest cold 

 of Fort Snelling is 35° below that of Washington — the most northern and 

 by far the coldest of these posts — and it is actually 78° below that of a post, 

 (Key West), which its summer heat exceeds hy four degrees! 



At Fort Howard, latitude 44° 40', the seasons are even more violently 

 contrasted. Its maximum heat is 98°, its minimum — 25. At Rock Island, 

 111., latitude 41° 28' we have already seen that the maximum is 96°, the 

 minimum — 10°; and at Council Bluffs, latitude 41° 45', the maximum 

 104°, the minimum — 16° ! At Petite Quoquille, near New-Orleans, the 

 maximum is but 94°, the minimum + 30° ! 



And an examination of the monthly variations in temperature, at our 

 North-westeni posts, will show that these are as excessive, in proportion, 

 as those of the year — and their suddenness can scarcely be credited by 

 an inhabitant of southern regions — more particularly those bordering on 

 the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.! 



It cannot be said that Fort Snelling, or Rock Island, or Council Bluffs, 

 have the summers of Italy or the South of France — for the weather is 

 much hotter at intei-vals, and is subject to far more frequent, abrupt and 

 violent changes than in the latter : nor have these posts winters as mild as 

 those of Europe, many degrees farther north .| And their winter exhibits 

 the same sudden and violent changes which characterize the summer 

 climate. 



These facts, in my judgment, fully explain the remarkable mortality in 

 the flocks which have been carried on the prairies, and which is usually 

 attributed to over-driving, poisoning, &c. The climate itself, though not 

 always a rapid, will prove one of the surest of jwisons, unless gi-eat care — 

 much greater than is requisite even on the bleak and sterile hills of New- 

 England — is taken to protect them fi'om its deleterious influences. 



Facts sufficient have been adduced, probably, to convince every South- 

 ern man how much he has to fear, ultimately, from prairie competition, in 

 the production of wool. Having thus attempted to measure the capabili- 

 ties of the various regions of our own country for the cheap production 

 of this staple, it may be well to turn our eyes to the comparative advan- 

 tages of other countries and nations — and to ask the question whether 

 there is any danger to the domestic producer from foreign comj^etition. 

 This can be done but briefly and rapidly in the limits which 1 have assigned 

 to myself. 



It will not be necessary for the purposes of the present inquiry, to ex- 

 amine the climate, flora, &c., of all portions of the world. The wool- 

 producing countries — those which have natural advantages to enable them 

 to produce wool cheaply enough, and in sufficient quantities, to stand any 

 chance in the general competition, are mainly embraced in a belt or region 



[* It will be understood that the sign — before the number of degrees, indicates that it is that number of 

 degrees below Zero, and the eign -|- used here, in the preceding Table, and in the subbequent parRgrnph, to 

 avoid confusion, signifies ahorc Ztro. I'uhlishfr.] 



t In the Report of the Fishiiic Creek Agricultural Society, of your State, 1?4:5, the Committee actually 

 co)n])lain of the variableness of the climate I ']"ruly, 'we can only judge by comparison !' 



f The mean winter temperature of North Cape in Norway, latitude 71°, is 23° 72 — that of Fort Snelling, 

 150 9,5_tbat of Council BlaH's, 24° 47- that of Rock Island, 2Go 86. 

 (179) 



