Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-13
A Neglected Industry

ress of civilization depends largely
upon wool" 1t furnishes the cloth
ing of a, good part of society. 1t IS
used more particularly by that por-
ton of the human race which has
made the greatest advancement
along scientific, economic and educa-
ttpnal lines. The people who wear
wool may be said to constitute the
dominating part of the worlds popu-
lat1on. In their ranks will be found
the most virile, honorable and pro-
gressive people in the world. IL
wool, therefore, has played such an
important part in cosmic civilization,
bne would suppose that the animals
which produce wool would be found
in considerable number on every
farm at least in the temperate zone.
Strange to say, this is not true. In
tie south in particular, we have neg
Iectcd to raise sheep, and, in our
own state of Georgia, it may be said
to be a sort of disappearing indus
try" We must re-invigorate this
aRdustry, and some of the ways in
which this can best be done are set
forth in the following statement pre-
pared by Professor Charles E. Kei'
ldsg, of the Georgia State College
OF Agriculture.
Live stock is the basis Of perma-
4 f1-Nv
= state or a community that gives to
&. live stock and live stock products
a definite part in its agricultural
program is a prosperous section and
a fertile land. Fully so per cent OF
the fertilizing value of a crop is re-
turned to the soil when fed to live
stock. Georgia needs this fertility
-, In order to produce the feed for |
live stock. various crops must be |
grown. This means Investigation |!
This of itself makes a better dis |
tribution of labor throughout the |
year, and a more uniform and de-
pendable income from the farm
Large quantities of otherwise I'M
marketable feed can find market
on four feet.
Sheen have several decided adj
va'ntages over the other kinds OF !
livestock. The initial investment is
small. The monetary returns are
both wool and mutton, Profits can
be realized within a year. Sheep
seek the shade on the hilltop in
stead of in the river, thus distribut- +
tng the manure on the poorest and ,
sverst eroded soil. The fertility F.;
Itays on the owners farm instead
If beng washed away.
Analysis of sheep manure shows
& to contain twice as much, potash
ger, ton as any other farm manure ,
Ind third more nitrogen. Sheep :
ire good scavengers. Many COM ,
non farm weeds disappear entirely
ron the sheep pasturage under close
erazing. They will also assist ma
!eriany in clearing the farm of I'M
1ergr cwth.
The sheep is rightly called the
"au;nl0I with the golden hoof." No
ether class of livestock enriches the
soil so profusely where it treads as
does the sheep.
Georgia, particularly the northern
mountain section, is peculiarly well
adapted to sheep raising. There is {
a vast area of rought land that can
not be cultivated profitably. Upon {
such land sheep thrive since it is
we'll drained and yet has numerous :
clear, mountain streams. In the
main, these north Georgia hills are
covered with palataoie grasses dur
ing the long summer. With grazing
these grasses will increase in num- ;
bers and in abundance as the shrub
berry is eaten back and the land is :
enriched by the golden hoof."
The mild winters of Georgia are d
a big asset to profitable sheep hus
bandry in that grazing crops can d
be furnished the whole year by >
careful planning. Nothing produces d
wool and mutton quite so cheaply as
grazing. Contrary to popular be-
lief north Georgia climate with the S
cool. summer nights and moderate {
winters can scarcely be excelled for d
sheep raising and particularly so S
for@raising the early spring lambs
for market. '
One disadvantage with the mild {
winters is that internal parasites be- q
come more prevalent. The severe @
winters of the north check these ]
parasites to a marked degree. Para t
sites can and must be checked in
Georgia by rotation of sheep to diff
ferent fields at stated intervals and
also by drenching.
Another dreaded enemy of the
sheep in this state is the "sheep kill