SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOU'i H. 



61 



This region being essentially Northern ai its characteristics no alltsior 

 will be had to it in subsequent remarks. 



It will be seen from the preceding statements that in many, if not most 

 situations, throughout the whole Southern States, sheep will obtain suffi- 

 cient food throughout the year Irom the pastures,* or from autumn-sown 

 grains, excepting on the higher or more northern mountains. As has been 

 before remarked, as the grain subsequently yields its crf)p, its tillage is not 

 properly chargeuule among the expenses of producing wool. The prejia- 

 ration of hay, and labor of foddering, are also dispensed with. By the 

 rule of estimation followed in i-elation to New-York, the items on the debit 

 side of the account would then be — interest on purchase money; interest 

 on land ; ex])ense of shearing ; salt, tar, and general supervision ; and los8 

 by death. The items on the credit side would be the same with those of 

 New-York. 



Your own statements. Sir, as well as those of Mr. Simpson, show that; 

 in many situations, both in the tide-water and hilly zone, three sheep can 

 be supported on the herbage of an acre, without other fodder. His state- 

 ments show that such lands can be bought at " from 50 cents to $1 50 per 

 acre." The annual account then would stand thus : 



Vr. 



lUO sheup — to interest on purchase money, at 



$1 25 per head ." ! 



To interest on 'J3i ncres of land at $1 50 



" expense ot'shearini; 



" salt, tar, and general supervision 



" loss by death 2 jier cent, over and above 

 value of pulled wool 



$ cts. 



S8 75 

 :} 50 

 4 UO 

 8 00 



2 50 



Total . 



$ cts. 



By :iOO lbs. of vi'ool at 31 tents per pound... S93 00 



•' 80 lambs, at K2J cents per head 50 00 



" Manuret 28 00 



Total $171 00 



Balance $144 



Making S4 32, or tu-o hundred and eighty-eight per cent, clear profit per 

 acre, on lands worth $1 50 ! 



By the respective estimates it will be seen that the gross cost of pro- 

 ducing a pound of wool (allowing 3 lbs. to the fleece) is, in the Southorfl 

 States. f^,^2 cents ; in New-York 27|^| cents| — or nearly three and a half 

 times Fr.'ater in the latter ! I have put down the expense of shearing the 

 same in both cases, and the supervision. South, twice as high as the svm 

 mer care, in the North. Shearing always costs $1 a day, per hand, in the 

 North, and the summer care devolves upon the paid laborer whose every 

 hour counts. The shearing would not be worth to exceed $2 a hundred 

 on a plantation where slaves are kept, and the supervision or care coul.1 

 scarcely be considered an expense, when it could be borne mainly, if not 

 entirely, by superannuated or decrepit slaves, or even by children. The 

 real expense of growing wool on land of this quality and price would be 

 about 5^2 cents per pound ;|| and calling the fleece 4 llis. (which weight it- 

 always ovsht to be made 

 This is above Mr. Coles's 



ginia, and Mr. John S. Skinner has repeatedly expressed the opinion that 

 it could be grown in various parts of the Southern States at 3 cents per 



• This supply could be rendered far morp ceitain and available, where drfirHble. by leaving a poilion of 

 Ihe fields undepastured in the latter part of summer and Hutumu. This "fog" or after-grass would not only 

 •tlbrd much food, of itself, but it also greatly lavors ihe sprouting of the young grass iindemeath it, by th« 

 prott^ction it offers from frosts and cold winas. 



t 1 have put this down the same as at the North, because I suppose it is just as valuable at the Scuth, 

 and quite is much needed. Few are disposed to appreciate the value of manure when it is not iirescnied 

 to their view in bulk, as in the barn-yard ; but it is worth quue as much, dri>^>i>pd in the first instanca 

 oyer the fields. I feel confident that Ihave not over-esliniHled its value cither for the ^-'oulh or the North. 



\ To oJtain these results, 1 divided the whole annual expense, ns set down in the respective estimate*, 

 with the exception of the charge of 2 pta- cent, for loss by death, by the amount of wool produced. Foi 

 reaiions already given. I do not" consider the wool charaeable with such loss by death, except in an ea 

 timate where tVie full product of wool and lambs is earned out. 



iln this estimate I call .-hennng $2 per hundr>i «alt and tar $1, and supervisJon nothici;. 

 Estimated as in the preceding note. 



to attain) it would but little exceed 3i cents.§ 

 estimate of expense in southern central Vir- 



