14 COMPARATIVE PROFITS OP WHEAT-GROWING AND SHEEP-RAISING. 



OOMPAEATIVE PROFITS OF WHEAT-GKOWINQ AND 

 SEEEP-EAKING. 



We find an interesting article, by E. W. Edger- 

 TON, Summit, Waukesha co., in the JFis. Farmer 

 for November, respecting the comparative profits of 

 wheat-growing and sheep-raising, a portion of which 

 we give below: — 



"As there seems to be a general lack of interest 

 manifested by our farmers this fall in regard to wool 

 growing and sheep husbandry, (owing in a great 

 measure, undoubtedly, to the decline in the prices of 

 wool, and the advance in the prices of breadstufls 

 and coarse grains,) and as I have had seventeen years 

 practical experience in grain raising in this State — 

 connecting with it the three past years that of sheep 

 husbandry — I claim the privilege through your 

 coluiniig, of relating my experience to our brother 

 farmers on these subjects. I shall take the occasion 

 to compare the two branches of husbandry with each 

 other; and, in doing so, shall refer to no better au- 

 thority than my own experience, to make my argu- 

 ments good in favor of the latter branch, hoping, 

 sliould any one be convinced, that they will " cease 

 to do evil," and learn to do that which is good for 

 themselves. 



"In the month of May, 1837, I commenced farm- 

 ing operations in this town, on my present location, 

 on a tract of laud containing 830 acres, in the state 

 of nature, and at that time thirteen miles from "any- 

 where." 



"During a period of ten years (from 1837 to 1847,) 

 I devoted my attention to grain raising, making win 

 ter wheat the staple article, averaging during the 

 period, about 100 acres of wheat per annum, with 

 the general average of about twenty-two bushels per 

 acre, which was sold at prices ranging from 44 cts. to 

 $1,06 per bushel — the receipts being sufficient to 

 pay all expenses, including the improvements made 

 on the farm, which consisted in clearing and getting 

 under cultivation, and fencing about 500 acres — 

 with sufficient small change left to clothe myself and 

 better half. 



"The unsuccessful part of this branch of farming 

 I will relate in a few words. It commenced with the 

 harvest of 1847, which averaged only about twelve 

 bushels per acre, and of inferior quality. The har- 

 vest of 1848, ten bushels per acre; that of 1849, 

 eight bushels. I resolved, therefore, on making one 

 more desperate efifort; and in the fall of 1849 I sowed 

 200 acres of wheat, in good season and in good con- 

 dition — expecting, should 1 realize a good crop, to 

 turn my attention to sheep husbandry the following 

 year. But again I was doomed to disappointment — 

 the harvest of 1850 averaging only ten bushels per 

 acre, which sold in market at about 60 cts. per 

 bushel — not sufficient to cover expenses. 



"The harvest of 1851 was more productive, but 

 the ([uality inferior to previous years. I succeeded 

 this year in borrowing ^1500, at 12 per cent, interest; 

 and, in the month of October, 1851, invested $1059 

 50 cts. in 557 sheep, being at an average cost of 

 $1.90 per head. The flock consisted of 306 ewes, 

 176 wethers, 55 lambs, and 20 bucks. The balance 

 of the $150iO was used in patching up our extended 



credit and preparing winter quarters for our flocks. 

 The following June, 546 reported themselves ready 

 to be shorn — the records of mortality showing a loss 

 of eleven during the winter and spring. 



"The receipts from the flock the season of 1852, 

 were as follows: 



1490'i tl>3 wool, sold Brown & Larliin, 355ic., $632.83 



lOSfi tbB " " 32«c 34.28 



259 sheep sold sundry persons, averaging $2.17 664.26 



Add 210 lambs to the increase of 1862, at $2.17 466.70 



Total $1587.08 



"The average weight of fleece being 2 13-16 Bbs. 



" In estimating the expense of keeping sheep, I will 

 put the prices (at what I believe most farmers will 

 agree with me in,) to correspond with the price of 

 wheat in market, at one dollar per bushel. 



15 tons of wild hay, at $3 per ton (per 100 sheep,) $46.00 



37>a bushels corn, being a peck per day for 5 months 



(per 100,) 18.76 



1 Iibl. salt per year 2.60 



Shearing, washing, sacliing, twine and marketing 8.75' 



30 weeks pasturage, at one penny per head per week 30.00 



Care of shepherd, being one man's time per 1000 sheep, 



7 months 10.00 



Mailing S1.15 per head, or per hundred $116.00 



" Or, compare the cost of wheat, at 75 cts. per 

 bushel in market, would make 86J cts. per head, 

 which I believe to be about the actual cost of either 

 item. I make no account of interest, for in making 

 the comparison with wheat raising, I ofl'set the inter- 

 est on capital invested in sheep against the expense 

 and wear and tear of soil in raising wheat. Deduct 

 the expense of keeping 557 sheep, at $1.15, which 

 is $640.55 from $1587.06, the net receipts, and you 

 have the net profit of $956.51, or, $1.60 per head, 

 for the year 1852. 



"After deducting the number sold, and the losses, 

 we have left, including our lambs, 497 sheep, to 

 which we added by purchase in the fall, 470 more, at 

 an average price of $2.42 per head, amounting to 

 $1137.40; going into winter quarters for 1853, with 

 967, of which 400 were ewes, 286 wethers, 246 lambs, 

 and 35 bucks. Of this number, only 866 were up 

 aad dressed at shearing time in June, 1853 — having 

 sold during the winter 18, and the records of mor- 

 tality showing the demise of the alarming number of 

 83 during the winter and spring, by causes to us not 

 vnknouti. " Thereby hangs a tale," as the saying ia, 

 which, Mr. Editors, is too lengthy to relate in this 

 nunilier; but as I desire to record my experience in 

 book farming, you shall have it at some future time. 



"The receipts from the flock for 1853, were as 

 follows: 



18 sheep, sold during the winter (including 7 bucks.) .. $134.00 



2'.)37 lbs. wool, sold Haskina, at 50 cts 1468.60 



417 plieep sold sundry persons, averaging $2.55 1063.36 



91 pells sold, including those of 1862, at $2.60 600.00 



Amounting to the sum of $3361.85 



" Deduct the expense of keeping 967 sheep, at $1.15 

 per head — $1112.05; leaving the net sum of $2.32 

 per head for 1853. The average weight of fleece 

 this year was 3 lbs. OJ oz. 



"After deducting the number sold, the dead, and 

 eleven missing during the summer, we have left, in- 

 cluding lambs, 678; to which we added in (he fall, 

 442, at an a^'jrage price of $2.50 per head, amount- 

 ing to $1105, going into winter quarters for the 



