The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-18

only To DC CetcIt4lltV NAtlilts ti'
farmer, Viii make II.
The subjccr of Sheep l~iusbandrN
i presented, believing that the
caption Of this article speaks the
truth. especially in regard u the
county Of Ncchlcubur9 and the
country embraced in the valley III
the ladkin and Catawha Rivers.
Mecklcuburg ha, taken decisive
step, IN the line II agricultural
progress. los dispensing With the
eXhausting expense OF fences, cN-
cept what may Dc necessary 10 en-
close pasturage for the stock on
each farm and has thus placed
herself in advance of any other
county in the state. Bat the fact
declared III our caption Will apply
TO any county 81 individual farmer
In the state.
The assertion is made, and IN
ycstioaliom challenged TO disproNe
it, that there j, no portion of the
Eastern Continent. OF of the West
crn, East Of the Mississippi River.
that IosScsse, superior natural adj
yanta9es 10 the State Of North
Carolina, especially this portion Of
it. for the successful pursuit of this
branch Of huSbandry. 70 show
this clearly to the reader, he i
asked to refer to the records 81 III.
own memory for facts respecting
the existence and treatment Of
sheep in North Carolina. The
universal testimony will be about
this. VIZ That nearly every farmer
III Your acquaintance owned 4 small
flock OF sheep, and that 1t was a
rare exception that their owner
rcckoned them amongst his valua-
hle stock, the evidence OF their cstl-
mated value being shown by the
universal neglect with which they
were treated. That the cale of the
farmer was to provide shelter and
provisions for his other domestic
animals. while his sheep were eN.
pcctcd to ''liye pretty much OF
what they could pick up" suppl.
men ed by little ''roughness Jha'
might be spared from his Winter
stores for his cattle, and to hunt
their W shelter, or shiver through
the pittiless storms Of Winter, an(
vet these small flocks would live OF
and keep their numbers full, ant
heap Goals of fire upon their owner
: heads by furnishing ralment for HI
family and after having fattenec
upon the spontaneous Spring gras
OF the common range, furnishing
/ few Of their number for his table
and perhaps contributed rs man
more Of their carcases to feed III
worthless dogs. This paragraph
, gives the general history Of shee
raising in North Carolina, as ia
back aS the memory of man run
meth.
y Now, reader, ii little reflection
for YOU are asked to weigh an
: consider this important subject
/ How would it have been posslbI
1 for sheep to have escaped EXTERN
e nation from the soil Of our State
I under this treatment, unless thcl
e had been Il remarkable adaptatio
/ in climate, soil and indigenou
:. growth of food suited to the wan
e Of the animals \ few sporad
II efforts have been made IN ditferel
s parts Of the State to introduce fiji
le breeds and To treat them with tt
o care they merit, every one of Whlcl
1. Of whatever peculiar breed thu
L may have been, has shown that !
) nature Il State /. peculiarly tittt
for their growth AM development
There. therefore, remains b
ct "A other question for the farm
to consider, VIZ "Gln lntrodu
lr sheep growing protitably upon II
farm This question Will be j
s; vcstigated in another article
I'll Il. IouHg, IN CHar{0tte Democrt
ld Charlotte, \. c.. July, 1873.