EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI EIVER. 



469 



the same proportion, and that the wool brought top prices in eastern 

 markets, gives striking proof of the value of the limestone lands, good 

 water, and pure air of this section of country for sheep-breeding and 

 wool producing. But the great wool-growing part of the State is that 

 known as the Pan Handle in the extreme northwest, which has a history 

 peculiarly its own, and which will be considered in connection with that 

 of western Pennsylvania. 



Sheep avd wool of West Virginia, 1870 to 1890. 



Year. 



!N"umber of 

 sheep. 



Wool. 



Average 



weight of 



fleece per 



head. 



1870 

 1880 

 1885 

 1887 

 1890 



552, 327 

 674, 789 

 637, 665 

 593, 666 

 508, 651 



Founds. 

 1, 693, 541 

 2, 681, 444 

 2, 705, 071 

 2, 443, 080 

 2, 288, 943 



Pounds. 

 2.88 

 3.99 

 4.25 

 4.25 

 4.50 



The States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the eastern part of 

 West Virginia are likely to continue their sheep husbandry in the 

 direction of raising early lambs and mutton for market and home flocks 

 for home consumption, such a system as is so successfully pursued in 

 New Jersey. Quick returns comiug from lambs 4 months old at higher 

 prices than full-grown Merino grades have an especial attraction for 

 the thrifty and enterprising farmer. Half-bred Southdown, Hampshire, 

 Cotswold, Oxford, and Shropshire lambs, properly cared for, can be sold 

 at a small profit on the meat alone, leaving the wool as clear gain. The 

 healthfulness of the climate, the cheapness of both fertile and worn-out 

 lands, and ready access to good markets make this section peculiarly 

 suitable for mutton and lamb raising. There may be depressions in 

 the market at times, as there are and must be with every industry, but 

 the farmer who can raise a 4-months lamb and dispose of it for $3.50 to 

 $5.50 and sell the wool from the ewe at 25 cents a pound, and send her 

 fattened to the market in tlie fall, when she brings $3.50 to $5, will find 

 the balance on the right side of the ledger in a series of years. The 

 rapid growth of our cities and the increasing appreciation of mutton 

 by city people is likely to sustain a large demand, and there is not much 

 danger of a continued over supply. There is also a growing disposition 

 in many localities in the country to discard pork and use more mutton, 

 which gives much encouragement to the maintenance of small flocks 

 for home consumption. Wool will be a secondary consideration with 

 the farmer, but with the improvement of his mutton he will increase 

 the weight of his fleece and furnish good combing wool, which will com- 

 mand a remunerative price, high tariff or low tariff. 



NOKTH CAROLINA. 



Information regarding the introduction of the Merino sheep into the 

 State of North Carolina is very limited. The earliest notice we have is 



