The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-27
Dogs ana Sheen.

"Be,oare Of dogs."-Apostle Paul to the
Philippians, in chap. iii, verse 2, says "be-
ware Of dogs, beware of evil workers.
In contrast, our Saviour says "feed my
sheep" The Redeemer using the smile as
most appropriate to designate his pure,
humble followers-innocent and bameless.
The Apostle using the term dog as signif-
cant OF the "evil worker" While the dog
is often trusty, faithful friend and guar
dian, he is the most destructive aud vici-
Gus, when SO inclined, of all animals, and
when rabid is the most to be dreaded, be-
ing then in q state to impart the most
awful disease to man and beast which has
ever been known to bring certain death
in its most excruciating and horrible
form. The sheep is, of all creatures,
made for the use of man, the most
quiet, inoffensive, harmless and useful
It affords him clothing and food, Injuries
nobody, and commits no trespass, if pro-
perly cared for, while its sustenance re-
quires less cost than either COW, hog, or
horse. The same land will produce more
meat and wool than milk, beef and butter
Mutton is not only luxury, but is a
cheap and convenient meat in ordinary
autumn and winter season it will keep
sweet for cooking four to six weeks, and
longer If cold weather; thus the house,
wife can be sure at all times of having a
healthy, delicious dish ready in few min
utes to set before an unexpected and late
visitor. In our State, sheep live and do
well on grass alone, and corn-fodder, straw
or hay in winter. They seldom receive
feed Of grain of any kind, unless perhaps
during long continued snow.
Now, while this mex pensive and careless
method of keeping sheep will enable them
to do well and prove profitable, if not in
terferred with by dogs, it is not the sort of
keeping | recommend. If they could be
protected from dogs, would say, to derive
the highest profit from raising sheep, they
should be either pure blood or high grades
of one of the three best breeds-South-
down, Cotswold or Shropshire-and be
always kept in fine condition by being
never stinted in food and water. Care and
generous feeding is true economy in breed
ing the better classes of sheep.
To obtain an effective dog law, let every
man who feels an interest in this impor-
tant branch of food production demand of
his next representative in our Legislature
this relief of the sheep raiser from the
great wrong he now labors under. Every
man who wears wooden clothing or sleeps
under blanket; every poor man in town
or country who desires wholesome cheap
meat for himself and family; every free
liver who enjoys a chop or saddle of NUT
ton; every one who has an eye for beauty
and innocence, should compel by united
voice the politicians to do justice to our far
mers in this particular, and abandon their
former practice of fearing to offend those
few voters who keep dogs they deem too
worthless to pay tax on. Consistency,
thou art jewell" Our politicians will
tax the horse, the horse that makes the
bread, and the COW that gives the milk, for
the support Of the family Of one poor, in
dustrious man, but are afraid to tax the
sheep-destroying dog of another poor man,
who is idle and as non-producing, and,
perhaps, as mischievous as his dog. l
write feelingly on this subject, for the dogs
have forced me to sell my Southdown flock
my beautiful pets.--Ma,yland Farmer.