The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-31
FROM MONONGALIA COUNTY.
The Sheep Question Discussed.
GRANT DnTRIcT, w. Va, /
March 70, 1875.
Editors OF the Register {:

Editors OF the Register:
AsI see but little in your Weekly
paper from Monongslia, and that far be.
tween, thought as l was farmer, a
few lines would not be out Of place. We
are having out here just now, our equi-
noctial storm, surprising any for years,
blowing down fencing, with depth of
snow not surpassed this winter, the freeze
being but little inferior to any cold
weather this winter. The apple buds
are far advanced, and faint hopes are en-
tertained but for small margin, any.
The peaches ere certainly all killed.
Other fruits, such as cherries, &c, / could
not say, as they have yet to survive
Easter storms.
There has just closed protracted
meeting at Union Church, Grant Dis
trict, BY Rev. Mr.. Goulden, Methodist
Church south, with success. He Is we'll
nigh the peer of Moody.
The growing wheat, with some excep-
tions, shows well.
A gentleman in Roane county asks
in your issue of the 18th inst, informa-
tion on sheep husbandry. / have the eI-
periepoe of one OF my neighbors, who has
handed the common, Castwold, Leices-
ter, Southdown and Merino If to grow
for mutton, the Catswold or Leicester, or
a cross are preferred. Yet they require
to be in small punches, with ample range
to be kept healthy. To grow for wool,
the Spanish breed of sheep surpass all
Others, all things considered. They may
in winter be punched as cattle, and fed
on small lots, provided with suitable
sheds for shelter, with racks and troughs
for feeding, giving rest to the grass; and
continue free from distemper, which long
wooded sheep will not do. There is
another disease which all sheep may
have, and how it comes l know not.
That is foot evil or rot, which may be
caught by travelling over the path of dis
eased sheep. 1t is now known that Rag
weed one of the greatest pests OF all
weeds, may be utilized, by cutting at the
proper. time; cure well; house it IN the
dry; and salt it as put away. Sheep Will
do as we'll or better on it than they will
on the best timothy or clover hay.
Mr.. J. 5: Hood, residing in the upper
end of this district, lost by dogs this WIN
ter a select lot of Southdown and Lelsters.
loss about $780, and the original costing |
from SIS to S25 per head. This brings up |
the dog law, which is the poorest in the
shape of protection which has ever eman-
ated from legislative body. Indeed 1t
is pronounced farce-a sham protection
for property, on which property depends
the comfort of the citizens, and the pros
perty of the State as much as any other |
branch of industry. Why not tax all
the dogs in the State, no matter whether
the owners keep them for pleasure or
protection. All the property of pleasure
which the writer has Is taxable, so any
wde-meuthed politician who Is not think.
ing of aspirations to Congress, Governor,
&c. may see at once that the dogs are
dong more against our prosperity and
progress than any other curse OF the |
State. Look at little Brooke county: The |
Auditors report for 1874 shows that she |
has So, 2S3 sheep, Taking her as an ex-
ample then fifty-four counties each pro-
ducing $S5,2S2, while many could pro-
duce double that number, would give
| .9O5, 282 in the State. The value at
SZ.UU per Hcdu "Ouiu SFo eHS
State taxable property of $3.50 |
564, being more than half the value
of all the horses, mules, asses
and jennets in the State. Suppose, in
wool, pounds per sheep would give
5,7l5, S46 pounds of wool, one-third OF
that, l,9O5,2S2 pounds OF wool may be
kept in the State to supply our factories
and for domestic use; two-thirds, say |
3,Sl0,5G4 pounds of wool may be sold,
say at Soc per pound, which would bring
the people OF the State an income OF
Sl,333,697. Let those whose children
have shigered in the cold with cotton
clothing of foreign production from
our own State ask, Why it is he can
not have cheap wooden clothing for his
wife and children? Any farmer can an
swer by saying; "No protection against
dogs"
Messrs, Editors, no farmer of small
means will risk more than $40 or $l5 in
sheep. So let the State give all the pro-
lection the people want, and better
showing by great odds than the writer
sets forth will be realized. Give the pro-
lection guaranteed for say six or eight
vears-;f not not realized, thou raise dog
mutton and dog wool. FARMER.