Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-09-18
Berkeley County sheep and
Wool Growers Association.

WOOL Growers ASSOCIATION.
The Berkeley county sheep and
wool growers association met
Sept. 4th, 1880, and after the usual
business of the association was
transacted, the following address
twasread by the Secretary:
To the Members of the Wool GroWers'
Association Of Berkeley County:
i You have organized an associa-
ton for the purpose, as we deem,
to promote the interests of sheep
raising and wool growing among
the farmers OF the county OF Der.
kelley, and as that branch of hus-
| bandry is of recent introduction
among US, it behooves us to lay
hold of all the Information upon
the subject that Is within our reach
and within our power, and for that
purpose we regard this association
as the best medium by which such
light and knowledge may be at
tanned; because by these associa-
tions we can impart to each other
such best information that we have
and the experience we have had
on the important business of sheep
husbandry. We say that the bus
mess of sheep raising and wool
growing is very important lax
in the chain of farm husbandry in
this section of the country, for very
many reasons, which we will in
this address feebly endeavor to set
forth, and as far as we can, illus
trate by experimental facts which
| from time to time come within
our knowledge and practical ex-
perience. In the first place then,
we say that our salubriOus climate
and fertile and undulating surface
are highly conducive to healthful-
ness in rearing and nurturing the
fiocks of the field, making the bus
mess here less free from risk by
the owner from many of the dis
eases incident to that species of
stock which in many sections OF
the country almost amount TO
prohibition to farmers from engag-
ing in the business. Among the
most powerful of these may be
named the foot rot, which in many
places in the United States pre-
walls to an alarming extent, and
with such results as at times to de-
stroy whole focks, thereby the
owner sustaining powerful losses,
and deprivation of his means in
vested. Here, in this healthy
country, we have never known
case of foot rot to originate, and
all the diseases of the kind, If they
existed at all, were brought here
from other sections of the country.
Diseases among sheep sometimes
prevail here, but they, as hereto
fore, have been inconsiderable,and
with but slight detriment to the
interests of the owner. We think,
therefore, that we can with safety
say, judging from retrospective
standpoint, that for healthiness in
sheep, our country and climate
cannot be excelled on the face of
tn. globe, which, too, we deem as
of the highest importance connect
ed with sheep husbandry.
We are of the opinion that the
farmers of Berkeley cannot engage
in any business connected with so
many present and lasting benefits
to his pecuniary interests as to
have his lands well stocked with
sheep, when he secures to himself
the proper breeds and carries on
the business with proper care and
management; and in order to do
this, the present association we
believe to be by far the best meth
odto obtain such information. In
proof of what we have said with
reference TO the.value of sheep rails.
ing 10 the farmers of Berkeley,
we have only to refer to those
counties where the business has
been carried on, as business, and
where they have attained to very
high degree of perfection in their
business and in their finances as a
result of their labor, care and man
agement.
The highest proof of the advan-
tages of sheep husbandry to the
farmer, lies in the fact that when
the business is carried on in a pro-
per manner, we see no retrOgrade
movement in the business, but on
the contrary, we always find the
farmers of that section stocking
their farms with sheep to their
fullest capacity, endeavoring to
keep all the stock of the kind that
lies within their power, which at
once sufficiently proves that they
regard sheep raising as source of
wealth to the owners, and an ad-
vantage to their country.
The county of Washington, in |
the Stale of Pennsylvania, forms
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