456 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



is as uiucli couti'ust betweeu the modei-u up-to-date sheep of to-daj 

 aud his ancestors of less than half a century ago as there is between 

 the old-time razor-back and our modern swine. 



But those engaged in sheep husbandry have encountered ob- 

 stacles, which in many cases has been of a very discouraging nature, 

 and the first we will mention, is the dog nuisance. With the rapid 

 increase of population, and the springing up of railroad towns and 

 countr}' villages, there has been a corresponding increase of the 

 canine family; and there is as much enmitj' between the dog and 

 the sheep, as there is between the seed of the woman and the ser- 

 pent. And a dog — yes, we had better use the plural and say dogs — 

 are a very necessary adjunct to a village home. And their depre- 

 dations either sooner or later become so far reaching and exten- 

 sive, as to cause farmers to abandon this industry entirelv; and 

 for this reason man}^ localities which was once the home of the 

 sheep has been given over to other industries. Of course our State 

 laws afford some relief to the farmer in making good the price of his 

 sheep; but they are not radical enough to reduce the number of 

 worthless curs. A dog that is only worth 50 cents a year for the 

 pleasure of his company, may not be much credit to the family. But 

 if the tax was |5.00, most men would see that he was a worthy 

 animal, or else dispense with him, aud we believe in many cases 

 a number of children would be allowed the full enjoyment of what 

 they now have to divide with the canine members of the family. It 

 has been shown "that the dogs of Ohio cost the State more than 

 |100,000 annually in sheep killed.'' And we believe the loss in Penn- 

 sylvania is proportionately as great, but we don't have the data 

 from which to deduce figures. In Wayne county the sheep destroyed 

 by dogs in 1902, amounted to |1,572. 



Another discouraging feature in connection with sheep husbandry, 

 has been tlie low price for wool which has prevailed for a number 

 of years. But, personally, this has never given us half the con- 

 cern that the dogs have ,done. But this depression has been so 

 pronounced and continued as to cause quite a number to dispose 

 of their flocks and turn their attention to the mutton breeds, and 

 the growing of mutton lambs; and it is along this line that we will 

 direct cftir thoughts more particularly. And to some this may 

 seem somewhat out of season, as a reaction has taken place, and 

 wool has been very slowly advancing in price from year to year, 

 thus giving encouragement to farmers to again turn their attention 

 to the breeding of fine sheep. 



But let this be as it may, the American people have become so 

 partial to this toothsome morsel that there is no time in sight 

 when mutton, and especially lamb, will not command paying prices. 

 In fact, more farmers who turn their attention to the production 



