The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1919-10-01
GROWING SHEEP
PROFITABLE HERE
Natural Forage and Grasses
Would Greatly Reduce Cost
Of Industry.


This section of Mississippi is well
suited for sheep raising, but the
question of destruction by dogs is
always brought up. 1t has never
been stated how many sheep have
been killed in Forrest county by dogs
and the chances are that many dis
appearances have been laid at the
door of his dogship when some one
has stolen them. The dog is one of
the finest domestic animals that ex-
lists. He has voluntarily attached
himself to man, and he is a friend
to his master whether he is a mil
lionaire or poverty-stricken negro,
hence law in Mississippi that would
entirely eliminate dogs would not be
very popular even in this section of
the state. Nor is such law neces-
sary. Only the sheep-killing variety
should be sent to dog heaven never
to return. There are dogs that do
not kill sheep and they should have
consideration. Forrest county now
handles this situation very well by
taxing male dogs 81 and the female
of the species --3. This plan pre-
vents the accumulation of any great
quantity of dogs and adds a neat lit
tie sum to the school fund.
HALLAM ON GOATS.
On this subject, H. G.. Hallam,
publicity representative Southern
Settlement and Development organi-
zation, has this to say:
The department of agriculture is
interested in controlling dogs and
has made a close study of the subject
throughout the United States. On the
national forest ranges the depart
ment has men who kill stray dogs
along with other predatory animals
but about the only thing in the de-
partment feels authorized to do in
other parts Of the country is to col
lect information and give advice on
the subject. Officials have given ad-
vice about model dog control law
which 1t is still up to some of the
states to enact.
Bills along this line are being
pressed before the Georgia Legisla-
ture and other state legislative bo-
dies, 1t is understood. The necessity
for their enactment is recognized by
experts familiar with the sheep in
dustry and the difficulties it is con-
fronted with, for no matter how suit
able the forage, climate, market and
other conditions may be to the grow
ing of sheep. this branch of agricul-
ture cannot e very successful or
profitable If dogs are left free to
prowl about at night and prey upon
the focks.
An idea of the damage caused by
the predatory dog to the sheep in
dustry may be had from official state
ments of the department of agricuI-
ture that in one recent year over
$4,000 sheep were killed by dogs in
502 counties reporting 100000
sheep within their borders. And
dogs uncontrolled are officially de-
clared to constitute one of the chief
reasons for not increasing the rails
ing of sheep in S6 farm states where
the department estimates $4,000, 900
additional sheep could be placed
without interfering with other live
stock.
GOOD OPPORTUNITIES.
The southern states present good
opportunities for sheep raising, &C
cording to L. G.. Como, of the bu-
reau of farm management, agricultu-
raj department, who has been study
ing the situation in the south in con-
nection with the preparation of ma
tional agricultural atlas. This is
known by many men in southeastern
Georgia, south central Florida, west
ern Alabama, some sections of Missis-
sippi and in Tennessee who are buy
ing sheep to run on their land.
| Department of agriculture scien-
lists believe that there is big chance
for sheep growing in number Of
southern states. Texas live stock
men think SO likewise and have TAX
en sheep, goats and cattle into Lou
isiana and further east with some
success. Western Florida and south
ern Georgia and other parts of the
south are deemed especially we'll a.
dapted for shep raising, according to
the judgement of government ex-
perts. The More Sheep, More Wool
Association, with headquarters in
| Philadelphia, is cooperating in the
movement for re-establishing the
sheep industry in the south on the
large scale it can attain there.
FORAGE SUITABLE.
Government experts say that a
number of grass and forage crops
that thrive in the south are espec-
tally suited to sheep. They deny the
popular idea that sheep will live and
thrive on weeds. The latter are eat
en-, but the sheep require more tempt
ing food also. They can get along
fine with velvet beans, carpet grass,
crab grass, burr clover, soy beans,
COW peas or other southern forage.
The wide spread Of wire grass and
broom edge of the south is not the
best forage. but annual southern
grasses are. The latter have been
injured by burning the land over in
connection with turpentine opera
tf0ns and by some settlers in the
coastal plain area who have not be-
come convinced of the harmfulness
of this plan.
/ It is predicted that the south is
coming back into her own as a sheep
country. But the dogs must be con-
trolled, say those who know. In deal
ing with the dog problem one Of the
difficulties to be met is the propen-
i sity of negro farmers who own from
5 to rs dogs which he does not feed
but leaves to forage for themselves.
! The white man is willing for the me-
| gro to have the dogs if he viii feed
them or confinq their operations to
less choice game, but objection Is