256 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



Pea, the Vetch or Tare, Oats, Red and White and other Clovers, 

 Millet, Blue-grass, and most of the other cultivated grasses com- 

 mon elsewhere. These, with such roots as turnips, beets, and 

 mangels, and with cabbages and kohl-rubi, furnish an abundance 

 of food which may be fed from the ground in rotation the entire 

 year. Perhaps there is no portion of North America better fitted 

 for profitable fine-wool husbandry, than would be the Southern 

 States, under a system of skillful and enlightened agriculture. 

 Tt would be difficult to point out localities in these States that 

 are more specially adapted than others to the raising of sheep. 

 The climate everywhere is genial, and if any one State seems to 

 offer greater facilities than another for the shepherd, it is Georgia, 

 and this more on account of the great quantities of land suitable 

 for the keeping of sheep, which can be procured at almost nominal 

 prices. For the production of the strictly wool sheep, cheap land 

 is very desirable, if not necessary, in competition with the exten- 

 sive ranges of free pasture found upon the great plains ; and the 

 sheep owner therefore will be attracted to those localities where 

 this need can be supplied. 



THE REGION OF THE WESTERN STATES AND TERRITORIES. 



That portion of the United States designated by the above title, 

 viz., that west of the Missouri River, offers an almost unlimited 

 field for the profitable rearing of sheep. While other localities 

 may raise sheep, this in the greater part must raise them or lie 

 unused and undeveloped, because the climate and the physical 

 character of that portion, as a general thing, forbid the prosecution 

 of agriculture and invite pastoral pursuits. Almost the whole ter- 

 ritory west of the 100th meridian to the coast lands of the Pacific 

 is a sheep pasture, which can never be furrowed by the plow ex- 

 cept under a system of irrigation. Nature could scarcely have 

 combined more favorable conditions, to meet the necessities of the 

 shepherd than are found here. A dry soil, short, sweet, nutritious 

 herbage, pure water, pure air, a long feeding season, good winter 

 pasturage or abundance of grass for hay, which can be cheaply 

 saved, are all here in some cases to be had without money and 

 without price, but anywhere for a very small expenditure cf 

 capital. Within the past few years, since this part of the country 

 has been made accessible by the Pacific and other railroads, and 

 the mining industry has opened up markets for produce, and has 

 brought in abundant supplies, some of the lands have been brought 

 under irrigation and cultivation ; but these comprise but a very 

 insignificant portion of the whole area, Probably not more thau 



