Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-03-07

| oOVIlo w ulC llldt lIllS IL just 10 the
dog, just to the owner and Just to the
sheep interests Of the State, Under
this law few worthless, vagabond
dogs would be killed, and valuable
ones would be blocked and restrained
from nocturnal depredatiOns on the
neighborhood. And this would be
just as it should be.
"If such law is passed by the
present Legislature-and every mem
Der failing 10 support such bill will
be marked and don't you forget tia
great impetus will be given to the
most pleasant and profitable employ
ment now open to the farmers of the
State. do not hesitate to say that
there ought to be ten times as many
sheep in this State as there are today,
and there would be many times more
than there .are if that industry
had the proper protection from dogs.
"Let us figure little and see a result
that many have not considered. 1t
takes.about the same amount of grass
and feed to support hundred pounds
of horse, COW, sheep and hog. A good
mare costing $l5g will foal colt
, every year which will sell for about
$50. a COW costing $25 will bring
: one calf every year worth $40. Ten
good ewes weighing 1875 pounds each
will bring fifteen lambs, which will
f average seventy-fve pounds each in
| May, which, at 6 cents per pound
/ would be $3.50, and fifty pounds Of
y wool at % cents per pound, $3.50.
9 Total for the ten ewes, $50. The
= mare and cow, weighing $50 pounds
o each, would eat about the same as the
q ten ewes. The mare pays 335 per
. cent, the COW 40 per cent and the
4 sheep over 100 per cent on the money
q invested in them. No more money
y can be made on hogs until Germany,
y France, Spain and other countries
4 open their markets to our hog pro-
o ducts. Nor can any be made on the
Il common cattle at the present prices,
- and prices will not materially i'm
o prove until the vast grazing grounds
&c of the Northwest are settled up by
). citizens and their millions of acres
- converted to other uses.
q "The sheep is the only ordinary
.. animal in the State today that will
Il bring living reward for the care
y and feed bestowed on it. While other
> animals have all declined in value
# the sheep has nearly or quite doubled
# in value within few years. Let US
90 figure again. A farmer has wife
and four children, two boys and two
r. gills. He and his two boys, IA TO l6
O years Of age work hard in the crop.
,. The wife and two girls care for the
% flock of fifty ewes. The ewes ought
NJ to bring seventy>fve lambs and $50
b pounds of wool which would sell for
l., $500. How much will the man and
NJ two boys make? About half as
30 much. But the woman dare not en-
Is gage in sheep husbandry for fear of
al the dog and so the interest is neglect
re ed. All over the country you see
e, farms growing up in bushes and
h. briarS that sheep would keep down,
as and thousands of farmers would 90
ut into sheep raising within year if the
r. great, towering, unmitigated, das-
ms tardly dog curse was removed or re-
10 strained so they would feel at all safe
its in engaging in it.
he eve are raising too much corn,
no blowing the land too much, and it is
he getting poorer every year and so are
to our farmers. Sheep husbandry re,
n stores the land to fertility, keeps
lr- down noXious weeds, briars, bushes
nd ETC., and is the incest and most pleas
of ant and profitable employment We
ire can engage in, and the only avenue
a out of our present woes.
err "Will the Legislature act in thi
on matter? III was a member l would
ect certainly vote to put the dog wher'
ay he belongs and not allow him NOR,
lin privileges than is allowed the Gov
TO- ernor of the State. would not res
MS satisfied until had brought the dol
for down to an equality with other ami
Try mails.
his 81 hope that all farmers and editor
a in this State will give this matter tn
ass consideration its Importance de
ore mands, and let us not rest nor ceas
all to agitate it until we get some yer.
nj specific legislation right along thes
nd lines. We need it badly and ough
The to have it at once"