The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-10-19
SOUTHERN WILD SHEEP.
Neglected FIocks of the Georgia Pr
Woods.

Woods.
In the great piney woods of the South
Atlantic states a peculiar race OF
sheep roam at large, almost as wild
and uncared for as the famous south
ern ''razor-back" hog. For many CEN
turtles these sheep have existed in parts
of Georgia and the Gulf states, and by
adapting themselves to the climate,
poor food and inclement weather, they
have succeeded in surviving all of the
vicissitudes of a wild and precarious
life. They are commonly called in the
south the sheep of the piney woods"
they have no recorded pedigree, nor
even breed name. 1t is supposed,
however, that they were originally
brought to Florida by the Spanish ad-
venturers when they first settled upon
the present site of st. Augustine and
that at that time they belonged to the
fne-wooled merino breed. Turned
loose in the new country, they gradu-
ally lost the characteristics of their
breed, and degenerated to their pres
ent state. They possess even vet in
the merino sheep. They have the same
general form, though less uniform, and
wool that is nearly as fine as the pure
bred merino.
In the historical accounts of the
early Spanish visitors to Florida, there
are records of their bringing sheep and
other domestic animals with them, and
haf In
importation of fine wooled sheep to
this region was ever heard of. Wild
sheep were known to exist in the south
in the days of Washington and Jetfer-
son, who endeavored to improve their
condition by introducing fine breeds
from abroad They recognized the
great advantages which the south Of
fered for sheep husbandry, and every
thing was done by them to establish
the business on a sound basis. With
the exception of the low-lying regions
a4ong the coast, the whole country
from the Potomac to the Gulf of Mex
leo offers advantages for sheep raising,
and it was with the idea of rearing
countless herds in this section that
these early statesmen encouraged the
industry by writings, speeches and
practical demonstrat ton.
But the south did not take kindly to
sheep-raising. King Cotton assumed
complete control, and crushed out all
other phases of farming. Cotton and
sheep We're not supposed to go to-
gether. Sheep had TO go with grass,
and there was no room for grass in the
great cotton-growing states. The few
sheep in the south We're consequently
allowed to roam unframed and almost
pine woods. To-day they are found in
nearly as primitive condition as they
were 100 years ago.
The life of this neglected breed of
sheep is interesting to one who thinks
at all of the sheep industry. They
roam through the pine woods in great
mum bers through the day. large flocks
feeding together on the coarse and I'M
nutritious wild grasses and other vege-
tation. The grass in the pine woods is
very poor. The fiocks move from place
50 place according to the nature of the
feeding-ground, but at night they gem
orally come to a certain bedding-place
where they huddle together. Wild
animals, hogs and dogs roam through
the woods. and they frequently pouncc
down upon the HELPLESS sheep and de-
stroy many of them. Worthless dogs
are the great nuisances of the south,
and half-b.ed ours owned by negroes
and crackers almost live off the Young
lambs and ewes. The half-wild razor
back hogs are not much better. The
bleating of young lambs from some
thicilet is the signal for an attack, and
these strangely degencrated represen-
tatives of our domestic hog rush upon
the helpless creatures and destroy
mother and lamb unless the ram hap
pens to be within calling distance.
The latter will always rush TO the res
cue, aud whether the enemy be dog,
panther, or wild hog. the ram will offer
noble and determined opposition. 1t
is estimated that more than two-thirds
of all the born lambs are destroyed by
these enemies every year. The sheep,
wild as they are, are all owned and
branded but they are uncared for and
hardly ever watched. 1t is not at all
surprising that under such circum
stances the solitary hunter, negro or
cracker jewellers in that lonely woods
frequently helps himself to roast NUT
ton and lamn. N. \. Post.