150 SHEEP OP THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH AMERICA, 



has hitherto been a profitable crop, though now it is too low 

 to justify its extensive culture ; and Targe corn crops are ne- 

 cessary with a view of raising horses, mules, cattle, and hogs. 

 There is no system of husbandry so well calculated to pre- 

 pare our lands for large products of corn and hemp, a's feeding 

 sheep on our clover lands. I had supposed, till I made the 

 experiment, that sheep would not do well on rank clover. 

 To satisfy myself on this point, I put about 150 wethers on 

 a clover field, when in flower, early in May. The clover 

 was at the time nearly as high as the sheep's backs (Merinos). 

 I kept them on this during the whole summer, and in the fall 

 they were fat enough for the butcher. It is true they trod down 

 much of the clover ; but, as I had an abundance of pasture, 

 this was an advantage, as it left a thick mat of grass on the 

 ground, intermingled with the droppings of the sheep, dis- 

 tributed with much regularity. This thick covering prevent- 

 ed a loss of manure by washing rains, and rapidly brought 

 on a second growth of clover, which furnished my whole 

 flock with an abundance of pasture till the early part of Jan- 

 uary. The season was, however, unusually favorable, and 

 hence the clover pastures lasted two or three weeks later 

 than usual. In future- 1 intend to keep my sheep entirely on 

 my clover fields from the time they are in flower, and thus I 

 shall be able to keep in reserve a greater supply of blue grass 

 for winter feeding. 



" But it is not upon our high-priced tich lands alone that we 

 can carry on sheep husbandry to advantage. Kentucky has 

 a belt of hill and mountain country, bordering on the Vir- 

 ginia line, on the east, and on the rich lands of the State on 

 the west, averaging about 75 miles in width, extending from 

 the Ohio river and Big Sandy, latitude 38 degrees, 40 min- 

 utes, to the Tennessee line, 35 degrees 30 minutes north. 

 The whole of this region is admirably adapted to sheep hus- 

 bandry. The most northern part but a few minutes north of 

 my residence, and extending about two degrees farther south. 

 The lands are very cheap, the State price of those not yet 

 appropriated only five cents per acre, and those purchased 

 second-handed, more or less improved, may be had from 25 

 to 50 cents per acre, and still less when unimproved. This 

 country, in a state of nature, furnishes, during the spring, 

 summer and fall months, a fine range for sheep, and is sus- 

 ceptible of great improvement by clearing up and sowing the 

 cultivated grasses for winter feeding. This whole country 



