The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-06
0h80p Industry in
North Carolina
BY C. II. NIMSON.
Read Before the Sheep Breeders and Wool Growers As
ISOLATION Of North Carolina
FIRST PAPER.
Cd the Sheep and Wool Growers AsSo
citation of Mitchell COUNTY. Y. O.:

Nv -
Gentlemen: At the request Of some of
the members Of our association, |
present the following paper on the
sheep and Wool INDUSTRIES of your
county.
In this, the first one Of 4 series, / shall
call your attention to the Importance OF
his industry, and endeavor to show the
.ui@in OF the native sheep: their deterio-
rated condition. and outline the first step
necessary to bring about some improve
mont.
The sheep has been associated with
man rs Il 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
olhcr 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 50 universally rec
ygniZed as an absolute necessity to
maintain him. They have been from
the earliest ages the most reliable indi-
cation of the intelligence. progress and
wealth of nations. No better evidence OF
ms can be produced than the %a@ricui-
tural and commercial histories of Spain,
England ana the Netherlands for the
last three centuries. None know this
50 Vell as the English. and no people
have 50 We'll proitcd by it as they have.
and are doing 50 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
he United States of America. were
landed from the same fleet ut San. .Au-
@~l,tjne. September 9TH. 156o. $50 years
ago. From that day To this. the sheep
has been the most universal live agent
of The settlers in %subduin- the country
#AG maintaining It's productiveness; and
whenever they have neglected them.
~trriIiry exists a. ii monument to their
folly.
The earliest record eff 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
we're generally Of Il superior kind, both
for wool and mutton: that they were vc:y
I.y.fty. improving remarkably III open
PASTURE: that their mutton was exceed
.ngly fat. and Of good flavor; their wool
WAS described as very fine and of good
staple: that the women made OF it wool
en- cloth. and kept most OF the family
in clothing. 80 that the farmers had
no occasion To ran into the merchants
debt or lay out their money III stores
for clothing"
How unfortunate. that such a germ
OF home industrial development should
have ever been neglected
Vt Il later day large portions of the
sheep brought into North Carolina came
with settlers from Virginia, and the
flocks OF the State soon took IN the gen
cral character Of the sheep of that col
ouy: 50 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 c0lonists of jamestown were pro
v.Gcd with sheep by the London Com
rany in 1893: that they did not increase
very rapidly. and were largely destroyed
ly wolves" which is evidence that they
were neglected on Virginia soil from
th" beginning.
In 1Stti. because OF the depletion OF
the fertility Of the country, and its
mi kclness. brought about by the con
slant cultivation of tobacco without Il
proper rotation, together with the large
orerpr0duction, and the failure of all
Efforts TO raise the prices. and in order
Ia diversity industries. the general as
>pmbly of Virginia established. in each
county. looms and weaver>, and empow-
tred the county commissioners TO build
lou>cS for educating poor children III
the art Of spinning ana weaving. They
were likewise authorized to set 1T this
work all children of INDECENT parents:
I.t all these grand efforts to develop the
Industry. and thereby regain their pros
Iuritv. did not prevail against the pass
.ul for raising tobacco.
Early in the eighteenth century. Bey-
vIIy. in his letters. regrets that Virginia
had become dependent upon England for
l.arIy everything. including clothing. lie
says. their sheep yield good increase
and. bear good icoce. but they shear
racm only to cool them"
This then shows that 1T the time
Western North Carolina commenced to
"gaw On Virginia for sheep. the focks
.r that State bad, under gross neglect,
a.tyrioratcd very much.
Ir. Carman again says, that about
This time there were some superior
e..up in Virgins" Oh some plantations of
'...eut planters. some that had been
..eH-At from England and some from
.. West Indies, but as 4 rule the sheep
"".o very indiffcrent-some white, some
t..-a. a4d some pieLald. yielding wool
". Very varied quality and light OF
--p ulountain people Of North Caro-
.". ,avu started their ilocls on 4 very
..-rr.ur base. and have had under such
.""'lA~'anccs the universal experience
'' @a tuprohtabic career. preventing the
'.|t: umtut oG the industry for which