The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-03-12
before the audience: "The Governors
Guards are not strangers to me. I
noticed them in the parade"
DOVE WITH THE DOGS.
A Declaration of War Against Worthless
Ours.

TO the Editor Of the News and Courier !:
The Southern CNRivator and Dixic Farmer
SAYS: "Ihe Commissioner OF Agricul.
ture of Tennessee state, that the sheep
interests of that State are nearly paral-
yzed for the lack of protection against
the ravages of worthless ours. Until the
ours can be killed off the sheep Can never
have anything like fair chance"
The same might be truly said by our
Commissioners of Agriculture in regard to
our own State. With climate as favor
able as could be desired, with our nine
millions of acres of wood land and old
fields, much OF which is we'll set in grass.
es, on which eheep and goats do well, l
believe We could sustain at least three
million sheep and goats that would yield
an annual income of al least as many
dollars. The returns of 1881 { have
nothing later) show an income of only a
little over 100000 from this industry in
South Carolina. Now, why do these
advantages go unimproved? Why do
not interprising farmers raise sheep to
diversity their crops? The answer ls
given above. There are more dogs in
the State than there are sheep, aud the
dog of every race, sex and condition feels
that it is his right and privilege to depre.
date on the sheep at will, sometimes
doing more damage in one night than
all the dogs in the neighborhood are
worth. Toexpect small farmers to invest
in fine sheep without any protection
from the laws of our State against loss by
dogs is unreasonable. If such laws were
enacted as would secure 10 the sheep
owner such protection against the dog as
he has right to expect and dema1d, our
waste places would soon be occupied by
improved sheep, and our much exhausted
lands would begin to improve in way
that would astonish our old fogies; for 1t
can be demonstrated that the profits on
sheep are greater than on any other crop
save, perhaps the Angora goat.
Now, with these facts staring uS in the
face, Why is it that ne can't get Legis.
lature to pass some Law that will guaran'
tee to the farmer safety for small flock
of sheep? I say xnall flock, because a
large flock will warrant the expense OF q
shepherd to guard them, while the small
flock must take their chances and risk
the dogs. A tax of one dollar per head
annually will dispose of many a cur, and
law requiring the owner of dogs to
either euclnse their dogs at night or put
on them block weighing not less than
ten pounds, and to be responsible to the
sheep owner for all the sheep killed or
injured by their dogs, would guarantee
the safety of the sheep, and, my word for
| it, thousands of sheep will be raised in
our State where now there are none to be
found. You may name this to the aver
age farmer and he will tell you that
LAWYERS mako tho laws to suit themselves,
to the neglect of the farming interest,
when tho truth is farmers themselves are
not true to each other and their calling.
I think on count you will find that
there has been majority of farmers 10
every Legislature since the downfall OF
Radical rule. 1 know this was the case
while I was worrying the dogs for four
years, with just enough support to be
hopeful of success at future day; and
it ia so yet, that our people have this
thing in their own hands and are afraid
to use it.
For a few years I have been raising
the Angors goat with my sheep, and find
that The dog does not look. upon the goat
to coyet his life like be does the sheep.
and the goat is not 80 easily demoralized
as the sheep, aud is, therefore, compare;
lively free from his destructive visits, and
1 end them quite as profitable, or even
moro 40, both in fleece and flesh, th9n
any sheep I have eyer tried. They
browse more than Craze, and consequent
ly do we'll on many lands where sheep
would not.
The necessity OF diversifying our crop.
is upon US, but how best to do it is easier
asked than answered. Of this I feel
sure: if our sheep we're properly protect
ed by law against the dog, there are nc
crops that We can grow equal to the
| Haeces of sheep and Angora goats. aud
do hope that the farmers Of this State
| will see to it that such laws shall be
enacted as will protect this industry.
J. WASHINGTON WATTS.