APPENDIX. 429 



LETTER FROM JESSE EDINGTON, OF HOLLIDAY'S COVE, VIRGINIA. 



Dear Sir, — [Mr. Edington states, that liis flock was formed by 

 the purchase, m 1821, of 200 superior ewes, descended from Gen. 

 Humphreys' importation, and subsequently by a portion of the 

 celebrated flock of Messrs. Wells and Dickinson, of Ohio.] These 

 flocks form the basis of my present flock of 3000, and they also 

 form the basis of nearly all the fine sheep hi this region of country. 



My sheep are kept in flocks of about 200 each. They are fed 

 on hay and com ; say 5 tons to the 100, and at the rate of 50 

 bushels of com for that number, which is fed in troughs, and half 

 a bushel per day. Housing I think is necessaiy to protect the 

 animal from drenching rains in winter, as frequent wetting of the 

 wool renders the tops stiff' and rotten, and the whole fleece harsh 

 and apparently coarse ; moreover, injures the health of the sheep, 

 and requires more provender to sustain them. In severely cold 

 weather, they should be kept closely housed, and exposed only for 

 the purpose of obtaining water. [Mr. E. is located near the Ohio 

 river, and raises considerable com, the stalks of which he feeds his 

 sheep during ^\'inter.] I raised a considerable crop of sugar-beet, 

 which is excellent food for sheep, but expensive, compared with 

 com. Hay and com I think, upon the whole, the cheapest, best, 

 and most convenient feed for large flocks, with some oats occa- 

 sionally. 



My average yield for the last 5 years does not exceed 2^ lbs. 

 per head, having 700 lambs, 800 to 1000 ewes, and the greater 

 part of the flock wot full grown. I raise about 75 lambs from the 

 100 ewes. 



I wash in the Ohio river, which is generally very clear and soft, 

 with a pretty strong current. We put about 150 in a feny boat, 

 anchored a short distance in the stream, where three or four hands 

 wash over the sides of the boat. In this way, a sheep can be 

 washed pretty clean in about two minutes, and then they are per- 

 mitted to swim ashore, which removes all remaining dirt and 

 grease from the wool. They are then put on a clean sward from 

 4 to 8 days before shearing. The wool, washed in that wa\% vAW 

 be some 20 per cent, lighter than if washed in cold, limestone 

 water. [Mr. Edington's bams are spacious and convenient, but 

 his description is omitted.] I put my rams to the ewes the first 

 week in November, and permit two or three to the 100 ewes. 

 The rams remain with them about four weeks, and during this time 

 they are fed 2 gills of com a day, or twice that quantity of oats, 

 which is continued for a month after their separation from the 

 ewes. 



Our best pasture is spear grass {poa pratensis), which grows 

 spontaneously on our rich lands, and will last the year round ; for 

 early and late grazing, white clover is uncertain. We are obliged 

 to fodder $ome five months of the year. I sold rny crop of wool 



