Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1876 — More Sheep Wanted. [ARTICLE]

More Sheep Wanted.

Prom almost every quarter of the country we hear complaints of sheep being unprofitable at tbe present prices of wool and mutton. In several instances we have noticed articles going the rounds of the press-headed " What shall we do with our sheep?” and other similar titles which are likely to cause those engaged in sheep husbandry to be alal-med at the future prospects of their Very importantindustry.. Nl,w, it is an old sayirfg that ‘' straws show which way the wind biotas,” and we think there are some straws connected with the wool Interest which may be watched in order that the farmer may see Whether It Is advisable for him to kill off, or keep his flocks. Wool is a staple article always in demand, and for which a certain, amount of money can be obtained, and the only qu sti m for our farmers to decide is who l.er they can produce it with profit, not by basing their calculations upon the lowest price, but upon tbe average for a series of years. As the ■ bfr v XiMifv'iKvykl' \r

E rices of all staplb articles are liable to actuations Ihe only safe guide in their production uto base, all calculation! of profit upon averages, and in doing this wiiii wool wf mi UK mere are hm j -toou and substantial reasons to be hopeful for the future. One straw which points to a hopeful future iatbefact that we have not as yet been able to produce all the wool, required for our own use in this country. Last year we paid foreign countries some $50,000,000 for woolen goods, and about $11,000,000 for wool, ana to make up this deficiency we need some 30,000,000 more sheep. If our fanners complain of file low pnee of wool, what can they say of it in countries whence the deficiency in; our own markets is made up. Cannot we produce wool as cheap as the foreign pro-; ducor can land it in our markets, with all the extra expense to which he is compelled to submit before placing it in competition; with the home-raised article? If not, why not ? We have as cheap lands as any nation, and as good a' climate for sheep husbandry as,can be found mi the globe, consequently, there must be something wrong either is the breeds, or management of flocks, which makes wool-grow-ing unprofitable, if it is really so, as frequenfiy asserted. But we are inclined |© believe, that sheep husbandry is as profitable as any* other branch of agriculture, and although there may be some “ bad years” still upon the whole, raising wool and mutton will yield as large returns for the capital and labor invested os the production of beef, pork, or any of the ordinary farm crops. Raising wool is not so exhaustive to land as the raising of grain, and the differ-; ence should always be placed to the credit of the wool crop, which, it is to be feared, many of our farmers fail to do in making! up their accounts. The balance sheet, if it shows onlv the cash' part of a farmer’s operation with sheep, and especially if it docs not extend over a period of more than one or two years, will not give a fair exhibit of either profit or loss, for field* may have been enriched to such an extent that they will give a large, increase in the yield of grain, grass, or other crops for several years after the .sheep have been removed. Taking this favorable';view of the subject we would not advise farmers to sell or otherwise dispose of their flocks, but endeavor to itoprove ttoSJ increase the number. It may be nficessary in some instances to find a more economical method of keeping and feeding, but this can readily be done by studying the systems practiced by the most successful breeders in this and /other countries >- Rural New Yorker