The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-09
SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN VIRGINIA.

EtNtV HIS I'UNtl o.
SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN VIRGINIA.
j. Il. Woods, of Albemarle county,
Va. writes the SOUTHERN PLANTER AND
FARMER the following on Sheep Illus
bandrv vs.. Dogs:
can think Of nothing of more prac-
teal Importance at this time than the
protection of sheep from the depreda-
tons of the numerous hungry dogs
which intest every part of our country.
| commenced farming in 1881. and up
to 1913 suffered annually, losing the
larger portion of two fine tiocks, my
neighbors suffering also in similar
manner. though not to such an extent,
as they had hot embarked SO largely in
sheep-raising as | had. We came to
the conclusion that sheep husbandry
must be abandoned, if no plan could be
devised to arrest the evil. tried shoot
ing all the stray dogs ! did not know
found on nv farm. This, however, did
no good, and necessity, the parent of
invention, led me to seek another plan.
| determined to erect pen and pat my
sheep in it at night, and around this to
place small pieces of bacon, containing
strychnia, the smallest portion of which
will kill a dog. A great number We're
killed, far and near. generally those
which had peculiar fondrcsS for sheep.
Being driven up just at dark, dogs
coming into the field would trail them
to the pen, where very soon they would
lind their best medicine. | put out the
Strvchnine generally during the Fall,
Winter, and especially during the lamb
ing season, when dogs are particularly
destructive. did this for many years
and lost no sheep, protecting not only
my own flock but my neighbors, until
shortly after the close of the war, when
| NV flock having been almost destroyed
bv soldiers and other rogues few
shades darker, | failed to administer
nv infallible remedy for short time,
and consequently lost several fine Cots
void ewes and lambs. Since the war,
having to pay for my labor, | cannot
afford to build pens, but put the pieces
of bacon containing strychnia around
nv field near paths and getting-over
places, placing over them small fiat
rocks, chips and bark, to prevent birds
from getting them.
| receive MANY letters on the subject
of sheep-raising, and the universal com
plant is the depreciation of dogs and
how to prevent this. NY invariable
| reply is. not to RELY on any expectation
that our Legislature will do anything
to arrest the evil by taxation so long as
the owners of dogs exceed in number
the owners Of sheep. 4
If the people will only follow my
advice, thousands will be saved directly,
millions indirectly =; our mountains, hills
and valleys would be covered with in
Vulnerable herds, thus bringing in hand
some returns without the expense and
trouble of cultivation but few laborers
would be needed; the fact demonstrated
that sheep could be raised in safety
would bring in vast emigration from
the North, as we'll as Europe; our lands
would appreciate greatly in value, and
our vast water-powcr be utilized by the
numerous manufactures which would
necessarily spring up.
Great Britain, at one time, found the
production of the cereals annually he
coming less. fact of fearful import to
continue without a remedy. Resort
was had to the growing and feeding Of
sheep and cattle Ga large portion of our
State is not adapted to the latter, and
| the production of roots and different
sorts of food for their maintenance in
Winter and Spring, thus making large
supply of manure The scale at once
began to turn. ana Norfokshire and
other parts of England, not naturally
adapted to the growth of the cereals
by sheep husbandry were rendered fer
tile and productive
This would gradually follow here
and see no other mode of recuperatiny
| our exhausted and waste lands than to
follow the paths pursued by our fore
fathers. 1t will require great care,
energy, and attention to be successful
in sheep husbandrv. Our people must
wake from their Rip Van Winkic slum-
Der and mount the tide before they are
hopelessly stranded on the beach.