Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-02-06
MEETING OF THE wooL-GRowERs.

Der OF StOck-Sf0Wers at the Leg
islative hall. James Fergus was called to
the chair, and the writer was elected secre-
tary. Though there was a fair representa-
ton OF every branch of the live stock bust
ness present, the floor was occupied only by
the wool-growers, the arrangement to this
affect having been agreed upon at the meet
ing of the cattle men the week previous.
The subject of scab in sheep and the treat
e of same was ably handled by the par
Elephants, demonstrating that this branch of
industry in Montana is not wanting in
ability.
DIR. Parberry. who was first called upon,
spoke Of the hard task of cleansing a flock
OF sheep of scab, and how easy it was after
one had spent thousands Of dollars in dip
and the hire Of help necessary for applying
it, for a few diseased sheep to in oculate and
cause the work to nave to be lone over. He
thought men should be punished for bring
ing scabby sheep on the premises of others;
that, if possible, drovers should be required
to cure their fiocks before bringing them i'll
to the settled districts of Montana.
~ Gen. Smith thought it would be a diff
ficult matter to frame such a law as the doc
tor named and not retard the sheep inter-
ests and effect the revenues OF the country.
His sheep had the scab but he proposed to
cure them. He would keep them rom the
range of his %neighbors and wanted his
%neighbors to do the same by him.
Mr.. w. J.. Perkins had not been long in
the business, but was convinced that it was
good and hoped to see it. prosper. His
flock had been driven up from California
last summer, but as yet had no scab. He
cited some experiences derived from Cali
fornians on the treatment of scab, which he
said was q natural a~ffiiction with sheep.
He believed that men were often too hasty
in shearing. Wool shorn as late us July he
thought che best. Heat of summer caused
the oil to spread into the wool, giving bet
ter life and adding to its weight.
- Mr.. Cook said 1T was no great job to cure
the scab; that it took OF q years of expe-
rience before men could handle sheep in a
profitable manner; but with the expert
ence he had he considered the curing of
scab not harder than to cure a child of the
itch. He hoped to see some law that would
cover the needs of the wool growers.
Mr.. G. Edwards, who was last called up
on, though of a reserved and unassuming
nature, and somewhat reluctant in starting
out, when he got fairly into the subject,
gave vent to his thoughts in an eloquent
manner. Mr.. Edwards said that in his opin-
ion many mistakes were made by sheep
owners in mixing a great many kinds OF III
gradients together and compromising a dip
which they are not sure will kill the para
site. In his Judgment, which is based upon
all the information which he had been able
to gather upon the subject, both by reading
and observation, he had been led tQ. the con-
clusion that scab can be effectually cured in
much less time, and at much less expense
and trouble than is usually devoted to it.
The t~horonghness in details requisite to sue
cess i. any kind Of. business must be ob.
served, and he Wagdecidedly of the opinion
that almost any Of the kinds of dip now
used will give results entirely satisfactory,
if used with a strict regard to making the ap-
plication thorough. With regard to making
q law That will protect us from damage by
contact with diseased sheep, he fully con
Cured with the remarks of Gen. Smith,
that it is a very difficult matter to frame {
law that will afford the desired protec.
ton without working an injustice, or al
least a seeming hardship to others, ane
when they took into consideration the i'm
mense benefits and advantages to be derived
from the importation of sheep into our Dor
ders, it would require great care in framing