20 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



to the Marshal as 300, of course, for the census makes no distinction be- 

 tween lambs and grown sheep. He gave in 600 lbs. of wool, which would 

 be 3 lbs. per head for those wliich had been sheared. But by the laniba 

 b«;iug included in the census returns, it is made to appear tliat his sheep 

 8hcar';d but 2 lbs. of wool jier head. In the next census the lambs and 

 »heep should be separately returned, not only to obtain accuracy, (without 

 which ui;h statistics are valueless,) but the annual increase thus indicated 

 would be, of itself, an interesting and valuable statistic. 



In the preceding enumeration of erroneous returns, I have set doMTi 

 none as under returns where the product of wool has not been given aa 

 hjss than a pound per head ; and where it has fallen under that amount, 

 tlie returns from contiguous counties, possessing the same natural features, 

 exhibiting a far superior product, as well as the general complexion of the 

 returns throughout the State, have authorized me beyond a reasonable 

 doubt so to consider it. I may add, that it is a fact of universal notoriety 

 that there is no variety of sheep in any section of the United States, which 

 shears but a pound of wool per head.* A careful inspection of the census, 

 moreover, will not fail to satisfy any one that there are a multitude of under 

 returns, (not specified by me, as the product is given over 1 lb. of wool per 

 head,) in most of the States. This is shown by the same kind of compaii- 

 sons which have already been alluded to. These are far more common in 

 the extreme Southera States, where wool growing had not yet (in 1839) 

 been reduced to any system, and where sheep had been little looked after 

 or regarded. These eiTors grow less, as we approach the wool-growing 

 regions of the north and north-west. 



Taking those retui-ns which we are authorized to consider coiTect,+ it 

 will appear that there is no gieat difference in the average product of wuol, 

 per head, in States separated by froir. ten to fifteen degrees of latitude, 

 and no more than is clearly referable to incidental or extraneous causes, 

 unless we come to the conclusion that the difi'erence is in favor of tlie 

 Southern States. In proof of this, the following table is offered, giving 

 the products of some of those counties in each of the States enumerated 

 in Tables No. 1 and No. 2, which exhibit the highest averages } er head, 

 (excluding those obviously over returned. )J 



TABLE No. 3. 



* I consider eucb to be under returns, independent of the mistake made by including lambe Is tbo 

 •««meraticn, 



♦ Wi.h ths exception of the error arising from tne return of lambs— which perhaps would not greatly 

 »«rv the proportionable result. 



;"lt is proper to sny that thouch I designed to t*ke the highest averages. 1 did not go throuch a formal 

 reckoning of the averase in every county in the eleven States. 1 took those which appeared the hishes» 

 ttter a somewhat careful general inspection. 



II Excluding the fractions of ibe ounces in prccediiie column. 



