452 



SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



In the southern counties of the State sheep have not reached a great 

 degree of popularity. The average farmer does not believe in them and 

 contends that they poison the land upon which they feed. Those who 

 rise above this prejudice find the climate and surroundings very favor- 

 able to their keeping. Where there is free access to the salt marshes, 

 which abound along all the water courses, they are said to be entirely 

 free from the liver rot, and the salt mud is claimed to prevent the foot 

 rot, which fresh- water mud induces. The pure Southdowns, which find 

 such congenial conditions in western Maryland, do not thrive so well 

 when removed to the lower counties, and some attempts to breed them 

 have not been successful. The best results are produced when South- 

 downs, Shropshires, and Oxford Downs are bred to native ewes. The 

 produce is a fine mutton sheep with great hardiness. The so-called 

 native or common sheep are the remains of the old Merinos formerly kept 

 for wool. The great drawback to sheep husbandry in this section, next 

 to the prejudice of the people, is the hostility of the dog, and no progress 

 seems possible while the people think that the dog is more valuable than 

 the sheep. 



There was a slight decline in interest among the sheep-breeders of the 

 State in 1882 and 1884, but interest revived in the last-named year, when 

 the ravages of the dogs were somewhat abated and the sheep were free 

 from any general epidemic disease. The character of the sheep was very 

 much improved and more attention was given to the selection of stock. 

 In 1885 there was a slight decline in the number of sheep, owing to the 

 low prices of wool and mutton, yet the aggregate value was greater 

 than in the preceding year, because of the number of high-priced im- 

 ported sheep that had taken the place in small numbers of a large num- 

 ber of more indifferent ones. It did not pay to raise sheep for the 

 butcher, hence few cared to keep more than would be necessary for 

 home consumption. No disease prevailed and the destruction by dogs 

 was less than before, yet both Wicomico and Allegany counties re- 

 ported the loss by dogs to be not less than 500 each. The Agricultural 

 Department reported a still further decrease in 1886, but there had 

 been large importations of the Downs and the Cotswolds. The mass of 

 country sheep seemed to be disappearing, while a small but far better 

 class were slowly taking their place. Hence, while the State presented 

 a great falling off in numbers, she was slowly enriching herself by the 

 introduction of a superior class of animals. 



Sheep and wool in Maryland, 1840 to 1890. 



