Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-11
CHE farn1 aud fireside.
A GREAT INVENTION,

SHEEP HUsBANDRY RENDERED SAFE AMI
PROFITABLE.
The Conwayboro Telephone brings to pub
lie notice recent invention of Capt. G. Gil
bert, of Horny county, for the protection ol
sheep. A patent has issued to Capt. Gilbert
and Mr.. Thomas W Beatty, and all the pa
pers necessary to secure them in the exclu.
sive right to make, sell and use this wonder
full apparatus. Our contemporary says:
We have been permitted to examine it
minutely, and to study its adaptability and
we now affirm that in our judgment sheep
may henceforth enjoy perfect safety from
dogs and other carniverous animals, and that
too, at trihing cost and with very little troub
le. There is no doubt about the adaptability,
the racticability, the feasibility, or the utility
of the wonderful apparatus.
Capt. Gilbert has for number OF years
been one of the most enterprising and success.
full planters in Horny county, and always gave
particular attention to sheep raising. Some
years since be noticed that all his sheep which
were destroyed by dogs were torn about the
neck-so much and so uniformly so that be
was led to believe that if the neck could be pro.
tected they might be saved from such whole
sale slaughter. He then set to work to per-
feet some instrument which would secure this
object without otherwise damaging the sheep.
Fortunately he was not long in contriving
one which gave entire satisfaction in all but
convenience and cheapness. But with his
sheep so we'll protected he could we'll afford
to ex pertinent. Indeed, there was necessity
laid upon him to do so. Dogs continued at in
tervals to invade his flock but not one was
ever lost with this new protector Satisfied
that it answered the purpose of protection,
he determined to acquaint his friends with
its character. On one occasion, while in con-
versation with Mr.. Beatty, a cheaper device
was suggested, and this, as ultimately perfect
ed, will soon be before the public.
The invention consists in a metallic collar
or neck band, which is fastened together by
means of slot and rivet or button, and is
provided with cross pieces having pointed
ends. So simple is it in construction, and 81
perfectly adapted to the end in view, that
when once seen any one will be surprised that
it has not been in use for thousands of years.
This is the sheep protector proper. The band
or cross pieces may be stamped with the OWL
er's name and the year it was placed upon
the sheep, so as to keep perfect record OF
every member of the flock. 1t may also be
painted in colors by which one may at a
glance distinguish his own from every other
persons sheep at distance without the diff
Guilty often experienced of ascertaining the
ear marks. This band also comes into use
when the animal is to be caught for shearing.
By means of hook somewhat resembling the
ancient shepherds crook artistically wrong ht,
the sheep is taken by the collar and gently
controlled by the shearer.
Besides this they have invented shearing
board which excels everything of its kind we
have ever seen. The construction of this is
not so simple, but exhibits greater thought
fulness, combined with mechanical ingenuity
and humane regard for the animal to
which we are indebted for so many comforts.
1t consists of board with four projecting
arms, two upon each edge, to which the legs
of the sheep are tied during the process OF
shesring, and having also spring which en-
cages the metallic neck collar aforesaid, and
holds the head of the sheep By this inven
ton the sheep is securely held without VIC
lence or injury and sheared witboutdificulty.
The protector will cost so little that any
one able to own a sheep can we'll afford TO
supply himself with all that may be neces
sary, and after few years more we shall hear
of no such thing as a sheep killing dog. The
complaint, il any, will be against the care
lessness which may leave the sheep unpro
tected. We favor the dog. law of South Car
olina, and only wish it were more stringent
against the worthless ours, expensive hounds
and pestiferous fees which abound in the
country. But henceforth they will be pow
erless to hurt the sheep of prudent husband
men. The protector may be readily adjusted
to sheep of any size, and is worn without in.
convenience by lambs only few weeks old.
A REMARKABLE CALF.
Your postal to Warren O. Co., making in
quires about my calf is to hand.
This animal at nine months of age began
making bag, and before is was ten months
old its bag got so large that l began to think
it was diseased. l called several stock mems
attention to it, and took some friends present
to look at it and tell me what had best
do for it. When it was nine months and
twenty-five days old, some one suggested that
it must have milk in its bag, and upon that
suggestion | had the man that attends to my
cows to try and see if there was anything in
it, and to my surprise it was full of milk
Since that time (six weeks) l have it milked
1t is now giving about five quarts
per day. This calf has been kept in lot to
herself all its life; has never been petted by
any one; has never had any animal running
with it; was weaned at the usual time; was
carefully cared for during the winter, but
was not fed any grain-only hay and some
little wheat bran. At ten months Of age it
weighed 545 pounds. I propose weighing it
at a year ofage. I am satisfied that it will
weigh 700 pounds. The mother of this calf
will weigh about LOO pounds, and is about
six years of age, and a fine mixer. She is
the ordinary stock crossed with the Short
Horn or Durham stock, but she shows but
little sign of the Durham. This calf was
sired by a full-blooded Durham bull, bought
in Kentucky by Mr.. Robert j. Glendy, of
this county. This bull calf weighed 1,400
pounds at year old. believe that this
calf can be brought to give three gallons of
milk per day before she is two years of age
1t is remarkably fond of playing, runs about
more than calves usually do, and is in good
health. I have had the milk strained and
set away to see if it had any cream on it, and
found it quite rich, and am satisfied that it
is as good as any milk can be, yet have not
used it thus far.
l have given you the facts in quite rough
way. 1 am not accustomed to writing up
anything of this sort, but if you can fix this
up to suit you, the statements have made are
true, and the calf is here to be seen by any one
who wishes to see it.-J. w. WARREN, Bath
county, Va, an Southern Planter and Farmer.