The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-02-05

ton, would be al least SlUU,UUU we snali nave
500 900 pounds, worth now 1925, 900, max
ing an annual gain of SS25, 900, and adding
for the pork as above 100000, we get to-
tai OF S445 900, an annual result, equal to the
whole present value Of all live stock n the
county. And let itnot be supposed that this
result requires aDyreduction on account of
the increased expense Of feeding and tend
ing flock Of sheep; for this is more than
compensated by their usefulness IN keeping
down the growth Of noxious weeds and shrubs,
and converting then into most valuable fer
tilizer for the improvement and renovation
of worn lands. And on the contrary, that
the result given BY the figures should be
largely augmented will be apparent to any
one who considers the great improvement
which would be introduced into the mode of
farmlng-the cultivation of grapes, produc,
ton Of hay, and the favorable influence on
the health, mot to say the moras,) of our
population, Of such change and variety in
their customary food.
Now, if any one will apply these calcula-
lions IN the same manner to the whole Stale,
il will be found thai we should have an in
crease Of 100000 head of sheep, winch
would be an addition to the fixed property Of
the State of about slS, 200, 900; and en- an
nual profit from them OF $50 ,000, 900, and
from the increased namber ol hogs Ol 5000,
900, making total annual advantage to the
State Of S28, ,000, 900. Well, is that sOs III
not, why not. Where is the error Of fact or
falsity of inferences And if true, is It not
disgrace TO the State! Why has this source
OF wealth 10 our farmers, aud so 10 the State,
been SO entirely neglected-and this, too.
while ii is well known that our State pos
sesses facilities and advantages for this bu-
siness which are not found in more than one
or two other States in the Confederaey Our
whole mountain region has adaptations for
this branch Of agriculture which are not sur
passed on the continent, and there is not
county 10 the State where il would not spec
div become sOufce ol wealth. Why has
not the matter been taken up by our Legis-
lature, the only power adequate 10 the task
of removing the obstacle out Of the farmers
way! Not because il was not known that
such action was desired by the large mass Of
tie agricultural population nf the State II
has been repeatedly pressed upon their at
tentian, and some action demanded at their
hands. But Il has been repeatedly laughed
out Of the Assembly Of law-makers. l. it
because they have been too much taken up
with the weightier matters of partiZanship,
demagogulsm aud the public plunder: Ma
ny believe SO. But may it not be because
they are mostly men whose aVOcatiOns have
allowed them too little opportunity to famil
larIze themselves with such plain practical
matiers-that there are too many lawyers
and too few farmers among them?
II may be objected that this is an evil that
ought 10 cure itself, without The aid Of legis-
lation. Aud il may Sc said that il The peo-
pie had not deliberately perferred dogs to
sheep. they would not 50 universally have
adopted the system Of dog farming. But
how did this system originate: Evidently
ii arose from the manner ot the first settle
ment OF the country. Shpep farming was
lhen impossible. The frOntiers.m man, the
squatter and piUncer never advance into the
wilderness without mis- dos-and for very
good reasons. The original wilderness was
filled with multitudes Of wild animals, slili
eieni to eat up the entire crop Of the stray.
Cling settlers. Ii was necessary To call in
the aid Of the dog to defend the farm and
poultryyari. and gradually to clear the
country lur more regular and profitable modes
ni farming. But M one prelcnds that IN the
old States, there is any such service perform
ed BY the dog now. lie has performed his
part-but from mere habit has been retained
long after the circumstances demanding his
presence have disappeared. But il may be
said he is still needed in the capacity Of
watchdog. In some sections, and under
some circumstances, that is true--but are
one'tenth Il our present population Of dogs
worth any thing for that purpose: The truth
is. that so little attention has been given to
the breeds Of these animals since they have
become useless, that the races have been
mixed up and degenerated until one would
hardly be able TO find dozen good watch.
dogs in whole county, and they have be-
come almost as great nuisance as the origi.
nal wild beasts which they we're meant 70
abate. II all but the good watch-dOgs we're
destroyed, the farmer would have no more
complaints 10 make. nor the sheep.
That the evil will not correct ITSELF is ey-
ident from the fact that ii has not dome 50