Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-15
Chittendsn County
Trust Company
Hurlluston, VI.
gurIInytsn, VI.

profit basis of or 6 per cent cannot
hr ignored. This estimate it must he re-
mcmoercd is also probably much lower
than the actual figures. 1t is certain. too,
that many men have been kept out of the
sheep business through fear that III their
own particular cases the loss would he
much more than per cent Any one who
has actually seen sheep killed. injured,
or frightened by dogs is likely 10 think
twice before engaging in the business.
( In many cases while only | or ? sheep
may be actually bitten by the dogs, ting
whole flock is chased until il dies from
exhaustion.
/ IT the dog question could be satisfa g.
torilN disposed of there seems to he no
reason why the number of sheep In the
country could not he increased to the
extent already indicated. In Great Brit
ain there is ! sheep or lamb for each
- acres OF the total area. In the Sc farm
states III this country there is / sheep
or lamb for each 3l.s acres The British
FARMER handles his land on an inten-
sive basis and feeds his sheen on forage
crop pastures Such PASTURES not only
increase the fertility of the land but also
free the sheep from any internal para =
sites contracted through grazing upon
9
use of a succession Of fora ge-crop pastures
VIII prevent stomach worms, one of the
most prevalent and disastro scourges
OF young stock. and will enable the farm
or to market by the end of June or the
first of July, when market prices arc
usually the highest. the lambs that were
horn in the late winter or early spring.
landed under such conditions and on
hissl,- f..,,
small flock Of sheep cannot be over
looked.
In addition to pointing out these facts
the bulletin already mentioned "rho
Sh'cp-lilling Dog" discusses the possible
means of preventing in the future the
loss from dogs. At the present time the
various state laws on this subject differ
widely. some States using the money
obtained from dog licenses to reimburse
sheep owners, while others permit the
sheep men to recover damages from the
dog owners and two offer them no re-
course whatsoever. DOGS. however, are
very seldom caught in the act of l<illine
sheep. 1t is always difficult to determine
their owners. and where the damages
are paid by the state directly from the
dog tax funds the money very Frequently
claims
] remedy that is suggested for this
situation is uniform state dog law ON
bodyinG the principle of a tax upon dogs
suffici, nty heavy to discourage those
who are not willing to take care OF
their pets from Keeping them. Under this
plan all dogs over six months of age mist
he licensed each year, tho tax paid at the
the license number attached to the dog $
collar Any dog found without this tag.
unattended and off its owners premises
may be- killed When found unattended
ON f.lrm where sheep are kept the dog
may lie killed whether it has the tag
or not. and under any circumstances 4
dog caught cha -inG or killing sheep may
he killed. All dogs which can be proved
60 he sheep killers must be killed wheth-
CT caught in tn" act or not. and a re
ward Of $lj .houll he offered FOR any
one identifying q shoep-killing dog The
money received from doe taxes should
he devoted to reimbulaing sheep owners
for their lost stock ana tn" county should
in turn recover this money whenever
possible from the dogs owners. \ special
license should he issued for kennels where
large numbers OF dogs are maintained
under such conditions that they cannot
possibly do amy harm to neighborinp
! flocks
While some such plan as this i. prob
ably Indispensable 70 the full development
of the sheep industry in the United
states, there ar" cases where the flock
master will find in its absence the use
of dog-proof fences very desirable. The
grazing of sheep upon compa vcly
small areas of land sown to forage crops
instead of upon permanent pastures in
larger fields. matoriallv reduces the area
to he fenced and makes this n practicable
precaution. In tho west fences have lenn
built which prove "A satisfactory defence
against coyotes aud tbo forco Tho. ,,.i,,