The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-03-12

wards the poor innocea sheep. The very
animal Of all others the most profitable
giving the quickest returns--eontribu.iDg
more to enhance tho comfort ofthe human
race, and to swell the intrinsic wealth Of
nations, than any other, is the worst neg
lscted. In Ohio, sheep are positively
treated worse than dogsl The brood
slut is warmly kenneled aud full fed.
The very ours, that often prowl about
at night, for the vile purpose of thrust
ing their ~carniverous fangs into the
threats of the unoffending sheep, draw
ing and sucking their life blood, arc
treated to a shelter Of 3 stormy mig t,
and petted as worthy companions of their
hard hearted and imperious masters.
But that domestic animal, which, in
the Sacred Volume, is every where spo-
ken of as the emblem of innocence, and
was considered by prophets and Patri-
archs as one of their main sources of
living and wealth-to whose keepers on
Judeass plains, the angels came down
aud first announced the glad tidings of q
Redeemer-in Ohio, is treated more
like the fowls of the air, who neither
SOW nor gather into barns, and are ex-
pected, like the chameleon, to live upon
air alone. and yet make profitable re-
turns to their inhuman keepers. Kick
ed and cuffed about, exposed to the
merciless blasts and pinching cold OF
winter, often without water for weeks
together, and compelled TO supply the
wasting juices of the system by melting
snow or ice in their mouths, never shell
tered from the sleet and rain of the win.
ter months, which in Ohio are usually
followed by severe freezes and biting
winds, it is no marvel that farmers lose
variously from 100 to 1000 head in q
winter.
During the last three winters spent in
Ohio re confess that we never had in
the same length of time our sympathies
so severely taxed, our humanity so thor
oughly shocked, and our indignation so
fercely reused, as We have in viewing
the outlandish treatment of the Ohio
Aocks in general. There are some no
BILE exceptions: however. Some have
erected warm, dry apartments, and are
reaping their reward in less feed consu-
med, far less per centage in deaths, and
a larger growth of wool. Some let their
sheep run under a barn, where they are
exposed to all the blasts of wind from
every point of the compass, vainly sup
sosing that this is all Sufficient. A great
er delusion never entered the brain of
a sane man! Sheds should be built air
tight from the ground to q heighth of 8
or 10 feet. Ventilation should be at
the top or sides-neyer at the bottom.
Kicks should be arranged around on the
inside for hay and grain, and thea, if
the sheep have q due supply of water,
with only one half of the usual supply of
grain now fed in Ohio, We will rouch for
a great saving in feed, in sheep and in
wool. I have no doubt that the NOR
tality in the Ohio focks during the last
10 months, would have erected suitable
shelters for every flock in the entire
State. sis is sufficient to construct a
suitable shelter for 100 sheep.
VIII the wool growers of Ohio heed
our suggestions? VIII they ere another
winter duly prepare to protect their
locks? Will they assert their manhood
and put away their shiftless and s%loven-
.sh habits? VIII they look to their own
interests and study their own welfare in
his important matter? Or will they
sleep on-plod on-mope on-like him
IF whom the Poet thus speaks
And on he trudged not knowing what ne
sought
And whistled as he went. for wantofthought.'
We hope not, we trust not. We most
urgently advise every wool grower, to
,ut down his flock to that number that
ne can house and protect from the pitt
.ess blasts and scourging storms of win
Ter, and We will guarantee him the bless
of a better conscience, and a large
increase in his yearly gains. But to
him who is determined to bug his sins
md delusion, We say
"Who makes his bed of brier and thorn,
Must be content to lie forlorn." |
G d ROnKWFII, |
o.. MI fOEC 1