SIX SHEEP MORE PROFITABLE THAN ONE COW.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 686, 7 February 1881, Page 2

SIX SHEEP MORE PROFITABLE THAN ONE COW.

By careful observation I. have found tlmt as a rule six Oothworth sheep can be kept on what tvill.be required to keep a cow. A neighbour of mine who has a fine flock of grand Cotßwolds informed me that by selling his lambs at sddls. : 800. each and wool at 360, he has realised lldol 15c. a head, From my own experience I think we can safely count on BOlbs of wool, and at least eight lambs-from six ewes. My flock has always exceeded that both in j wool and number of lambs. Fifty pounds of wool at 40c. 20dol; eight lambs at sdol. each, 40do]i;. Five dollars may seem too high tor grade lambs, but I can assure any, reader who differs from me in these estimates, that a lamb that weighs 125 pounds ■ will find purchasers and will bo a good investment at that price. Tho amount invested in a cow and in ' six sheep Is nearly equal, but when we compare the labor aud cAro" required to make either of the two industries a success wo shall find it incomparably', in favor of tho sheep., There is no business so rigidly exacting, connected with the farm, as dairyman, Milking must be done twice : a day, and should be done at'regular hours and by the same person to secure the best result, Another item largely in favour of sheep is that their product is of such a nature that- selling,-it-can be kept until a more favourable market.presents itself, without becoming unmarkable. But not so with butter and cheese. These must bo crowded off on the. market, however badly glutted that market may : be, as it might as well besacrificed-abroad as spoiled at home, , -

It might be objected to by some readers that our comparison is unfair because the sheepjnd wool business is buoyant, and that tho dairy has for thVpast two years been!unusually'depressed. I would remind the objectors that in our calculations we have figured wool at more than SOpercent. less than-it is now. worth and less than any average for the last ten years.—"Cor. Ohio Farmer."