524 



dogsamouut to 15 per cent, of the whole, while the losses from all other 

 causes are but G per cent. There are 31 dogs to each hundred sheep. 

 The commissiouer estimates that the abatement of this nuisance would 

 greatly enlarge the capital invested in sheep, and raise the annual rate 

 of profit from 63 to 72 per cent. In a few years the number would be 

 quadrupled, and the clear profit on the investment would amount to 

 ^2,372,087 per annum, a sum exceeding the annual receipts of the State 

 treasury, and more than a fourth of the State debt. The value of sheep 

 killed last year, $73,852, would more than pay the per diem and mileage 

 of the house of representatives of -the State. 



Correspondents estimate that 100 sheep, regularly folded, would fer- 

 tilize eight acres so as to double its next subsequent yield. At this rate 

 the number of sheep now in Georgia would annually fertilize 25,544 

 acres. Supposing that unfertilized land would bring half a bale of cot- 

 ton per acre, the increased yield of this area would be 12,772 bales, 

 worth, at $50 net per bale, $638,600. If the number of sheep were 

 raised to 2,000,000, which might easily be done, if the dogs' ravages 

 were arrested, their manure would add $4,000,000 annually to the pro- 

 duction of the State. Thousands of farmers are ready to engage in this 

 business as soon as the law aflbrds adequate and just protection to this 

 interest. Millions of acres, now unoccupied, will be opened as sheep- 

 walks, and immigration will be enlarged. The large sbeep-proprietors 

 have capital enough investetl to warrant keeping shepherds for the pro- 

 tection of their flocks. Small farmers cannot incur this expense, and 

 consequently will not be able to engage in the business. 



The climate of Georgia corresponds to that of the best sheep growing 

 regions in the world, e. g., Spain and Australia. Mr. David Ayres, in 

 Mitchell County, in the 'southwest, keeps 3,500 sheep, at an average 

 annual cost of 14 cents per head ; he shears about three pounds 

 of wool per head, which he sells at 30 cents per pound, realizing 90 

 per cent, profit upon the capital invested. Lauds suited to sheep- 

 raising in that part of the State can be purchased at from $1.50 to $10 

 per acre. Mr. Ayres never feeds his sheep and has never introduced any 

 improved breeds. A cross of merino upon his native stock would great- 

 ly enlarge these results. About all the care bestowed upon them is 

 their annual shearing and marking. Dogs, hogs, and eagles are destruc- 

 tive, especially upon the lambs of this flock. This case is compared 

 with that of a farmer in Washington County, Pennsylvania, who, from 

 650 highly-improved sheep, costing annually $1.54 per head, shears four 

 pounds of brook-washed wool, at 56 cents per pound, or $2,24 per 

 sheep. The last winter being very severe reduced his average return to 

 $1.60 per head. The sheep are worth $3.50 per head, and the profits 

 amount to 46 per cent, on the capital invested. Tbe Georgia wool being 

 free from hay-seed and cleansed by the heav>' spring rains is nearly equal 

 to the Pennsylvania washed woof. The latter occupies land worth $50 

 per acre, or ten times that of the Georgia farmer. Tiie Pennsylvanim 

 keeps two sheep per acre, and the Georgian one ; the former invests 

 five times as much money as the latter in land and realizes but one-half 

 the rate of profit. 



A farmer in Putnam County, Middle Georgia, keeps 138 sheep, a cross 

 between merino and common stock, as a part of his farming enterprise. 

 They cost "only the salt they eat," Avhile they realize annually 100 per 

 cent, on the capital invested, from lambs, mutton, and wool. The fleeces 

 average three pounds per head, and bring a minimum price of 25 cents, 

 costing only the price of labor in shearing. This flock utilizes the Ber- 

 muda grass, so much dreaded by Georgia farmers in the summer, and 



