The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-06

the members of your association,
present the following paper on the
sheep and Wool Industries" of your
county.
In this the first one of series, | shall
call your attention TO the Importance of
this industry, and endeayor to show the
origin of the native sheep: their deterio-
rated condition, and outline the first step
necessary to bring about some improve
ment.
The sheep has been associated with
man as a domestic animal from the
earliest period of history, and, for many
reasons. it is believed that they were the
first animals subjugated by man. They
were certainly more easily conquered,
and supplied food and raiment with less
knowledge and manipulation than any
other animal with which man first came
in contact.
No other agent has done so much for
man in his struggles for civilization and
progress. and none is so universally rec
ognzed as an absolute necessity 10
maintain him. They have been from
the earliest ages the most reliable midi
cation of the intelligence. progress and
wealth of nations No better evidence OF
This can be produced than the agricui-
tural and commercial histories of Spain,
England and the Netherlands for the
last three centuries. None know this
so well as the English and no people,
have so we'll profted by it as they have,
and are doing so now.
The sheep is always the guard to at
tack new and undeveloped territory.
The first sheep and the first negro
slaves that placed foot on what Is now
the United States of America, We're
landed from the same fleet at San. Au-
ghstine. September 9th, 1865, $50 years
ago. From that day to this, the sheep
has been the most universal live agent
of the settlers in subduing the country
and maintaining its productiveness; and
whenever they have neglected them,
steriity exists rs a monument TO their
folly
The earliest record of the sheep and
wool industry in North Carolina says:
that sheep were brought to this pro-
vince at an early day from Rhode Is
land and from England, and that they
were generally of Il superior kind, both
for wool and mutton: that they were Ve'y
thrifty. improving remarkably on open
pasture: that their mutton was exceed
ngly fat, and of good flavor; their wool
was described rs very fine and of good
staple: that the women made or 1t WOOL
en- cloth. and kept most of the family
in clothing, SO that the farmers h;iu
10 occasion to run into the merchants
debt or lay ont their money in stores
for clothing.
How unfortunate, that such germ
of home industrial development should
have ever been neglected
At n later day large portions of the
N,s+ia mo 90 M
with settlers from Virginia, and the
fiocks of the State soon took on the gen
eral character of the sheep of that col
ony: so we must look to the origin of
the sheep of Virginia to get at the true
ancestral line of our stock of native
sheep.
Mr.. Carman says. in his letters, ''that
the colonists of jamestown were pro
vided with sheep by the London Com
pany in 1900: that they did not increase
very rapidly. and were largely destroyed
by wolves which is evidence that they
were neglected on Virginia soil from
the beginning.
In 1864, because of the depletion OF
the fertility of the country, and its
nakedness, brought about by the CON
slant cultivation of tobacco without a
overproduction, and the failure of all
efforts to raise the prices and in order
to diversity industries, the general as
sembly of Virginia established. in each
county. looms and weavers. and empow-
cred the county commissioners to build
houses for educating poor children in
the art of spinning and weaving. They
were likewise authorized to set at this
work all children of INDECENT parents;
but all these grand efforts to develop the
industry. and thereby regain their pros
perity, did not prevail against the pass
ion for raising tobacco
Early in the eighteenth century, Bev-
erly, in his letters. regrets that Virginia
had become dependent upon England for
nearly everything, including clothing. lie
says, their sheep yield good increase
and bear good fieecess but they shear
them only to cool them"
This then shows that at the time
Western North Carolina commenced to
draw on Virginia for sheep, the focks
of that State had, under gross neglect
deteriorated very much.
Mr.. Carman again says, that about
this time there were some superior
sheep in Virginia on some plantations of
opulent planters, some that had been
brought from England and some from
the West Indies, but as rule the sheep
were very indifferent-some white, some
black. and some piebald, yielding wool
of very varied quality and light of
fleece"
The mountain people of North Caro-
lima then started their fiocks on very
inferior base. and have had under such
circumstances the universal experience
of an improbable career, preventing the
development of the industry for when
this mountain country is 50 wen
adapted.
1t is true that very many public spirit
ed men have, from time to time, made
efforts to improve the sheep of the coun-
try. They brought in well-bred rams,
and in some instances, also ewes; but
their breedings, not being followed up
with persistent and proper management,
only eventuated in bringing about a
more mongrel race than their ancestors
represented.
Now then how can this evil be rene
died? There is only one way. Yor