The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-05-02
farNJGrs' Column.
4" Speed the PIOlU."
Farm Profits as Affected by Risk

Is IL SlCl(ly anu sure market, Ill WHICH Case
the profits, as a rule, are moderate, are, in
the long run, more successful than the class
whose main hope rests upon extravagant
profits (Which are sometimes realized from
products especially liable to failure of crop,
or great fluctuations in price. TO find the
path to steady and sure gains from market
products--gains which make one little
"better off" each year than he was the pre-, "a
ceding year-is to find the proper meGASs8
between the extremes of great profits sgtss
great risks. The principal sources of asF
which claim consideration in determining z
the question, what on the whole will 4
most profitable for series of years to rag s&
for market are special liabilities to failure"
OF crop, to fluctuations in price, to losses
rom disease, decay, or shrinkage, and, with
respect to sheep husbandry, to destruction
by dogs In some localities the liability
to some one or more of these risks is SO
great as to make it unwise, for this reason
alone, to engage in raising farm produetsr-
which, in other localities less exposed to
the same risks, are most lSmunerative. For
example, in two localities wheat may bring
the same price in market and in some sea
sons yield equally well but in one it ISIS.
sure and in the other very uncerta
With respect to some product ~
atoms in market price from yNds
are so small that when the cost Of psGsg 4
ton is known the rate of profit can be Ssyi's L
mated beforehand with good degree OF
certainty; in respect to some others, the
price is 50 tluctuating that estimating profit
beforehand resembles estimating gain from
buying lottery. ticket. Says correspon-
dent "Thc production of wool is protita'
BILE at present, but the price fluctuates 50
much that perhaps by the time the farmer
gets well stocked with sheep it will be too
low to be paying business" Generally
speaking, the judicious sheepraiser will
guard against the risk here referred to in
two ways first, by avoiding the extreme |
to which the i1uctuation is owing in part
that Of letting sheep husbandry, when wool
is high, eat out all other production, in
stead Of relying in part upon products less
variable in price; and, second, by raising
sheep with reference to profit from lambs
and mutton as well as wool. This branch
of agricultural industry, requiring but lit
tie labor and no skill, and greatly enrich-k
ing the land, perhaps as profitable as the
other, but the exposure to loss by dogs IS
so great that we shall give our correspon-
dents considerable space for reterating
their often uttered complaints;
Ltzeyne, Pa.-In consequence otthe large
number of dogs our farmers are fast aban-
doning the raising of sheep.
Clinton, PM-A few farmers raise wool,
but, on account of the poor quality OF the
sheep and the ravages of dogs, it is los
ing business.
Henry, Ia-Wool. growing would be
profitable if sheep could be protected from
dogs. -
Prince William, Ta.-Wool and muttonb
perhaps the best for profit, if it were nof
for so many worthless dogs, They are aV
great detriment to the agricultural inter D
killed, millions would thereby hs saved tok-l
farmers.
King George, Ta.--Ifwe could insure the
safety of sheep from dogs, the sale of NUT
ton, lambs and wool would yield us our
highest profit.
Smyth, V0.-Shccp and wool raising
would be profitable business were it not
for the hundreds of sheep-killing dogs -
UHhe, VA great many more sheetfG
would be kept if it were not for fear of TIL
dogs, since they are thought very proiita- n
BILE, both for wool and mutton. X
Chatham, ". C.-Much more attention h
would be paid to sheep raising if some III
legislation-State or national-could be ST.
procured to relieve growers from the rava-@~
ges of dogs
Cobb, Ga.-Thc production of wool is
abandoned on account Of destruction of
sheep by dogs. 1t is estimated that we have
fifty dogs to one sheep.
Lauens, Ga.-Away from the negro and
his dogs tlocks of sheep pay very well.
Hamihon Ga.-This is fine country for
WOOL but there are too many dogs, to raise
sheep; otherwise fortunes could be quickly
made by raising them for tertilizing land,
for wool, &c.
East Feliciana, La.--The dogs have killed
all the sheep.
Cherokee, Teras.-Wool would be one of
our most profitable products were it not for ~
dogs. ES
Campbell, Tean.-Shecp would pay - n
for dogs and wolves. ~
Giles, Tem.-Wool-pro reduction would IS
pay handsomely if our sheep could be pro- n
tected from destruction by worthless dogs. s
Union, Tenn.-Sheep- raising is most prof
ftablc, but not practiced much for want of
u wholesome dog-law.
Boone, W. Vu.-If it were not for dogs,
sheep would be made the most profitable
here.
Moaongalia, W. -Wool-growing would Is
be by far the most profitable, were 1t not IS
for the destruction fsheep 10y dogs. Many Is
who were largely engaged in this business ~
Il few years since have had to give it up,f&'
owing to this cause. f'SERsg Il
Lee W.--Dogs are too plenty for
to prosper yet.
Ranahakee, W.--Too many dogs for sheel
AtchiS0n, Kansas. Sheep would be pro
itable were it not for the droves of worth WI
less ours that intest all new countries.
The above article on Farm Profits" is n
taken from the monthly Report of the De
partment of Agriculture for March. 1t is
to be regretted that some law cannot be
enacted, in regard to the prevention of the
increase of useless dogs, not only on nc
count Of the destruction occasioned to
sheep, but also for the abatement of the
nuisance created by them in so many ways.
We arc not surprised at tie reluctance
exhibited by legislation 10 acting in this
matter, as from some cause, with the masses
ofour people. Dog laws" have always been
unpopular This should not be the case, as
properly devised dog law would certainly
be a blessing to any community--and we
think that one could be framed to which