PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT. 145 



eases known among us, are what is called ' the drying of 

 the many-folds,' and a sore face.* 



" ' What sections of your State are best suited to sheep V 



" It is impossible to say, for though the State extends in 

 length about 400 miles by about half that distance in breadth, 

 there is such a similarity in its general pastures, that the 

 description of any three counties together would be a gen- 

 eral description of the whole. There are particular differ- 

 ences, it is true, but these are balanced more or less against 

 each other. Those parts of which I can speak from obser- 

 vation are the Fox, Rock, and Illinois river valleys, though 

 the term valley has no particular applicability to the coun- 

 ties lying near these rivers, unless a valley may consist 

 of high, dry, warm, rolling land. The central counties of 

 Sangamon, Cass, Morgan, Scott, and the adjacent ones, are 

 likewise well adapted to wool growing ; nor have I seen any 

 section of the State, unless the region lying within ten miles 

 of this city, (Chicago) which is an exception. 



" There are in every county some wet lands, which are not 

 suitable, but these form a very inconsiderable portion. The 

 flocks of sheep which have been driven in, have gone to 

 every part of this, as well as to neighboring States and Ter- 

 ritories ; and though some losses have been experienced the 

 past winter, from want of care and skill, and from the nature 

 of the season last summer, when they were driven, they will 

 doubtless continue to come in, as long as there is a market 

 for wool. 



" It will be seen that the same general rules apply to sheep- 

 keeping here as are applicable elsewhere. We have a good 

 climate, can produce plenty of feed, have warm, dry soils, all of 

 which are necessary for the business. Skill, enterprise, care, 

 and attention will ensure success in it. But any launching 

 out into wild experiments, predicated on ideas of the all-suffi- 

 ciency of green savannas and South American pampas, will 

 end in disappointment and disgust." 



Mr. Wight's concluding paragraph is very significant, and, 

 in connection with his preceding remarks, at once dissipates 

 the notion which has so generally prevailed at the East, that 



* The former of these diseases is doubtless caused by the astringent prop- 

 erties of the prairie hay, and the absence perhaps of water. Green food 

 occasionally, and frequent salting, with daily access to drink, will act as 

 a prevention. The sore face can easily be cured by the external ap-^ 

 plication of warm tar mixed with sulphur. — Author Am. Shepherd. 



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