The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-15
M'She EARN
sheep and Dogs.
EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL
REPORT FOR JANUARY

EXTRACTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL
REPORT FOR JANUARY
Observation-Disclosures CO.: About
800 sheep killed by dogs. Howard
Dogs have destroyed the profits Of sheep
husbandry. ...-s, :.
v1Re1N1A.-Essex: Sheep fast dis.
appearing before the dogs. Gloucester
Bells a partial protection to sheep -
Highland: Sheep and other stock on
the increase. Rockbridge: The dog
law so unpopular that it was repealed
sheep consequently disappearing
Southampton: Dogs very destructive
to sheep.
North CARoLINA.-Person: Dogs
verv destructive to sheep Craven
Sheep lost 20 per cent by dogs; stock
but q fourth of what it was formerly
Montgomery: Sheep disappearing be-
fore dogs.
GEoRGIA-Cobb: Fifty dogs to one
sheep. Carroll: Sheep husbandry I'm.
profitable on account of hungry dogs,
whose owners do not feed them. Pike
Heavy inroads upon sheep by dogs and
butchers.
ALABAMA.-Lauderdale: Dogs de.
structive to sheep. Clay: Dogs killed
SO l-3 per cent of the sheep.
observation-disclosures: Few
sheep; many dogs
WEST acknowledgements: Can
not tell the number of sheep killed by
dogs in the county, but would say the
sheep business has been almost aban'
doned on account of the great loss by
dogs.
KESTUcKY.-Warren: The number
of sheep killed by dogs in 1871, LIB;
value, $3,445. The number in 1872,
SOL; value, $2,lsl These statements
are taken from the assessors books for
each year. Boyle: The FEAR of dogs
prevents the increase in hocks. If own
ers of dogs held strictly liable for the
killing, or such heavy tax levied and
enforced against dogs and owners as to
lessen the number of worthless ours
the number of sheep would be doubled
very SOUU, anu tuC COSG vi eAN4-
would not be felt by the farmers.
The question this showing suggests
is there no remedy for this wanton dc
struction of sheep by worthless ours
There are large tracts of waste lands in
this county where thousands of sheep
would be pastured if it were not fol
dogs. Our dog law has one evil feature
about it, which encourages slovenly and
dishonest farmers to let their shabby
hocks run without attention, thus invit
ing the attack of thieving dogs; and
then a partial board of appraisers is
summoned and the scalawag animals
are valued as high as first quality stock
Paying for sheep slaughtered by dogs
out of the dog tax encourages careless
ness in this class of farmers, while it is
no compensation for the loss of good
flock of sheep. $3.50
The tax on dogs should be rightly
enforced, even to making the harboring
of dogs that pay no tax felony. The
escape under the law from tax is too
easy. The yagabonds who have nc
visible property out of which the col
lector can make the tax, are the men
who keep the most Of the starved ours
which prey upon the sheep.
There should be no compensation for
killed sheep drawn out Of the treasury
The practice encourages carelessness
on the part of habitually careless farm.
ers; but the money arising from tax on
dogs should go into the school fund
Proper watchfulness and care on the
farmers part will do more to protect his
sheep than any law taxing dogs can
accomplish If the sheep are provided
with lot near the house of the farmer
to stay in at night, furnished with box
of salt, or salt and ashes, under cover
the sheep will soon get accustomed to
coming to this place to lie at night, and
a few bells on the strongest animals OF
the flock will give the alarm if the sheep
are disturbed at night, which they sci.
dom will be if all rambling ours are
shot at, when caught prowling about
or baited with stryehnine.
There is nothing that will return SC
much profit for the outlay on the farm
as flock of well cared for ewes. Every
farmer could, with great advantage
keep flock of select ewes of 10 to 90
A reasonable care on the part of the
owner is all that is required, From &c
good ewes, thirty lambs could be raised
fit for market in June, that will bring
from 50. so to $500 each. He ear
realize these figures from common ewes
with a good Cotswold or Southdown
buck, and the wool will add to this
amount dollar head for his ewes.