Mr. V.W. Lewis, representing the State Division of Markets, gave us a little life this week by bringing a wool buyer to bid on a small pool of wool that had been collected by the Farm Agent. While there was only 566 pounds in the pool, a satisfactory figure was realized, the price received ranging from 30 cents for the poorest to 48 cents for the best, or an average of a fraction over 35 cents per pound. This is lower than it should have been but there was some not so good, and quite a bit had burrs. Good clear wool is bringing from 37 to 39 cents (unwashed), which is much better than the price has been for the past two years, and I feel sure that wool will continue to be a good price as cotton is injured so badly by the boll weevil. Owners of sheep are urged to remain in the game for sheep raising has already returned to a profitable basis, and the man who (?? word obscured) his flock at this time is certainly making a big mistake. Don’t sell your ewe lambs. If you have some old ewes that are shedding their teeth you might let them go, but hold to your ewe lambs. Sheep require less attention than any other class of livestock, so why not grow them?
However, there is one thing that deserves attention, especially in our valley pastures, and that is the kockle burrs. Whenever possible a mower should be used to keep them cut down for if they are allowed to seed and the burrs get into the wool, the price of same is materially lowered. Where sheep are kept on pastures, they should be changed occasionally for if allowed to range on the same territory the stomach worm gives trouble. Occasional change of range, good winter pasture and a little care at lambing time will make sheep one of the most profitable livestock industries for Transylvania County.
From The Brevard News, Transylvania County, N.C., July 14, 1922.
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