Nuhou, Volume I, Number 21, 24 March 1874 — Sheep Farming [ARTICLE]

Sheep Farming

Un the " siope is now regarded as one of; the safest best paying iudustries in ihe' country. The| stock " interest on the coast; is exceedingly| flourishing, &nd many «4nterested in the pursuit have thought of extending operation|s, by establishing sheep farms on these islanjls. Ourgenial climatic eonditions are said to be the only inducemcnt for any man df enterprise to leave the prosperouS circun|istances of California, to seek fortune amid slow and backward state of tbings in the islands. But we think that 1 eep fnrming ean be carried on in this Archiigo? under conditions more favorable to stock than palifbrnia, and may be made equally as pro|fitaqle the grazier. We are led especially l io make these remarks in eonsequence of s6eing many letters of enquiry, and among o{jisrs, one from a gentlemaii in Stockton, CaL, addressed to the U. S. Consul, Mr. Mattoon, in whieh he desires iniomiation in respeqt to cost of lands, breeds of $heep, grass, water, and other particulars of information to, guide iiim in respect to establisliment ; of a sheep farm īn tins eountry, and we sliall endeavorj \vith a fe\v particulars, to aid this foreign enquirer as well as others at home. The character of the land, aud tiie tjuaiities of the J3cu>tui'e of a large portion| of these islands are well adapted for sheep raising. We think that fally one-fou|rth of our area, or say oue million acres are suitable for sheep pasture, This pasture is very varied, being couiposed of a raultitude of imported grasses and herbage of vatjious kiuds, the best of whieh is the " Bermuda grass," (cynodon dactylon) whieh is spreajling rapidly over the islands. When this gijass is enclqsed, otie aeie is amply sufficieht to feed a dozen or inore shecp the year round. No drouth ever destroys pasture. The ordiuary uatural pastures of the couritry are sonietimes quite denuded ,by severe drouths ■, but alī the runs of these islands are coutiguous to elevated mout)itain table-lands and valleys, w;\otv jwsunv nevor sonously cnJangered during the worjst of seasons. īho dews are gene»lly very jubundant» and sullicient for the \vater sjjpply of animak like sheep J Tho stook on some of thc ruus on Hawaii, aud on Molokai aud Lauai have no other wate| supply but de\v, aud such stock is thriftior tluui stojck ou well \vateicd. lands. .Our well irrigate;d Island of Kauai, whieh is intersected by hundreds of streauis has proveu vcnwinfiivoraplo iei sheep where<*s īinnai and Niihu h:\ve hicreaseJ their stocks , ovor the dry lands of Hawaii, Molokai !or.o hundivd per cent. j»or annuiu. Sheep arc I

very healthy on the islands, hare bee;: engaged now (en years iu slie!ep farmiiig ; and we have riot yet discovered oue of the eommon diiea.>o> prevaleiit in oihtr eouatries :—such as foot wol, or oihei sheep ai!ment. There are no ,wild beast<. or numbers of dangerous dogs tp molesl animals, as iu more populous cou ; ntrie<, Our ehiel trouUe arises from untrustworthinessof rtatives as shepherds, and Ihe liabllity of cdntentiori ,small with graiiers in your vicinity. And in some parts of, ihe islands, there is some drawback to sheep farpamg, on account of the increase of hurs, injurious to wool. But a man of energy,| w T ho could bring one or two faithful assistants with him wouīd readilv meet these difficulties in guaruing his filocks against petty sheep thieves, and in keeping his pa*lure clear of noxious weeds. | Lands are usually lsased pn favorable terms for grazing purposes. govem- ; ment controH some good pasture tracU, ii | they could only be designated 111 respect to | metes and bounds. We bave spre need of a ;complete typographical survey of the islaadt for the use of our Departmapt ol ilie Interior s so that the Minister might be epabled to say to an epquirer. we have suqli and sucli lands, and here is their siiuaiioif, extent and. value. We liave had a surveying corps busy for about two years, and we are in hopes to see a eompleie tj{pographieal 'map ,of this Archipelago fft)m their hands in tlie course of another year. We*have soiijLe good imprtedjmerinq siock o*l ihe islafids> and any intending emigraut to our and interested in sheep liusbanciry, ean get plenty 01 j good stock here; but we wo ; uld sirongly . recommenu him to bring a few| good bucks and ewes wiih liim for addiu<?nal impiovej ment. Ordinary grade ewes iliai will average I three pounds to the i!eece ean bje bought for about one dollar a head, although they have sold for less, Mutton. sheep a,re worth two dollars a head in Honolulu, but p.f course a grazier in these islands must' Ipok to wooi j and a forefgn market for lxis rpmuueration. jWe have so far found a ready market in Honolulu for our wool. Our eiip is usually | shipped to Hamburgh, Liverpooi, or Bostoii. | With care and aiiemion 011 tl*e pan of a I practical sheep farnier, residing on his jranch, and devoted to 01 stock iand pasture # a good busiuess cfxn be doae, I and we don % t know of any pursuit in these j islands, or almost anywheres eljse* that will j give such a sure and large retuni for a very I small outlay as sheep fariuiug. ? | _ l' • -, - | rGenkral Howari>, ihe •• Ciir'isliau \VarI rior.' > and father and promotcr of thu •,Freed- | mon's Buroau," and wlio \vas' suid I a s!iiniii£ light of jiu m almighty juorality j par<y in Amcrica is a littlc over,a quarter of ja inillion oi' dollars out of.tlie way iu his |aecounf#, anJ iherc is weepiug piud j gnas!iing of teeth aiuong hii> laie credujlous,but now iudiguant coiored bn;thren, I whieh ahows hoe h«r<l is tKe' way of the ! tran?srressor. • | h- ■ Wl'" ■-;? I ■ 'l'he pcws in P!ymout!i Church, Brookl,>u. jsold t!ii? yoar for 539,n0 a£;utisi jlast year, s!towing a shade of decliue u» ,gaat Beechor puipū jH>pubrity.