The Osceola times., 1875-12-18

which the state may well he proud of,
and commissioner Thomas p. james
is evidently the right man in the right
place. When such bureau, with a
competent head, shall form a part of
the administration of every state, a
new era will dawn upon our agricul-
ture.
Commissioner James has been in
vestigating sheep husbandry, as it
exists in Georgia, and has brought to
light and set before the people in his
terse, direct, and lucid style some
rather astonishing facts.
He finds, for instance, that the
average profit on capital invested in
sheep in Georgia is sixty-threc per
cent; that the cost Of keeping sheep is
only ffty-four cents per head; that,
while unwashed wool nets, on an aver
age, 27b cents per pound, the cost of
raising it is only six cents; that an
average of seventy-four lambs are
raised for every one hundred ewes;
that the average price of lambs sold
to the butcher, in Georgia, is sl.S2;
and that the average price of stock
sheep is 50 50 per head; and of NUT
tons s2.75. Other figures are given
showing the proftableness of sheep
raising.
In the face of these facts, however,
it is ascertained that, while there were
in Georgia in 1860, 512,61S sheep,
and in 1870, 4l9,465, there are now
but 3l9, 1923, showing decrease from
1860 to 1870 of 93, 1853, and from 1870
to 1875, of 100, 143 sheep in the state,
or decrease, in fifteen years, of 1885,
295, or 3S per cent. decrease during a
period in which there should have been
100 per cent. increase. "Startling
facts truly.
Now, why is it that an industry
which pays sixty-three per cent.
annually, on the capital invested, is
being abandoned?
From the same source from which
the number of sheep in the state is
obtained it is learned that there are
ninety-nine thousand four hundred
and fifteen dogs in Georgia, (thirty-
one dogs for every one hundred Sheep
and that they destroyed between April
1st, 1874, and April LIST, 1875, twenty
eight thousand six hundred and twenty
five sheep. May we not find an ex-
planation of the decrease in the num-
Der of sheep in the above figures?
In the June reports of the depart
ment, three-fourths Of the regular
crop reporters represent the ravages
of dogs as the principal obstacle to
sheep-raising, and estimate that fifteen
per cent. of the sheep in the state are
annually killed by dogs, and that six
per cent. are lost by disease and other
causes.
The special correspondents on sheep
husbandry-those actually engaged in
the business, and hence more familiar
with the subject-were asked to state
the principal obstacles to sheep-hus-
bandry. Ninety per cent. of the
whole number report the ravages of
dogs as the principal, and generally
the ONLY, obstacle. This obstacle is
found almost insurmountable, in the
case of the small farmer who could
otherwise keep few sheep, and re-
strict the business mainly TO those who
keep from four hundred to one thou
sand, and can afford to employ a
shepherd.
What is the remedy? A stringent
dog law, strictly enforced. d.-Rmol
Cdroiinian for December.
JOINT STOCK COOPERATIVE FARMING
COMPANIES.
We are glad to say that considerable
interest has been excited by the articles
which have appeared in the Rural
Carolinian on the subject of co-opera-
tive farming. The views advanced
appeal to the practical common sense
of the planter and the business man.
The only fear expressed is that the
agricultural classes are so little accus-
toned TO any combination or concert
of action, and untitled, by the habits
bred of their isolated, hundrum life,
that they will he unable TO act together
in the way proposed, for the common
good. a few years ago, this fear
would have been well grounded, per-
haps, but the grange has already done
much to teach the farmers their true
relations to each other and to give
them confidence in associative action.
They see clearly the application of the
principle to their own business-to
farming hself-and are. many of them
ready, we are convinced, to show their
faith by their works. As there is at
present no organization of the elements
required in such a combination as we
have indicated, and one is likely to
wait for another to take the initiative,
and the work be thus indefinitely delay
ed, we hereby offer to become a medi-
um of communication between the
various parties who are interested in
setting on foot one or more Joint Stock
Cooperative Farming Companies to
operate in the south, especially in the
Sea Island and coast region Of south
Carolina. Land owners, capitalists,
practical farmers, stock raisers, and
business men, interested in this move
ment and willing to invest money in it,
or to work for it, are earnestly invited