EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 467 



number was more than counterbalanced by the improvement in the 

 quality by the use of better breeds and by better care, induced by the 

 growth of opinion in their favor as a source of profit and as a valuable 

 factor in mixed husbandry. At present sheep are about holding their 

 own as to numbers, but better prices and an increasing demand for them 

 have caused farmers to sell off closer and keep up improvement. There 

 are many flocks of good sheep which are rightly appreciated and receive 

 as good treatment as anywhere shown, and some of the old tobacco and 

 wheat fields support sheep the year round at a very small cost. In 

 general, however, not much care is bestowed upon this valuable stock 

 in the State, save in the Piedmont region, where the farmers raise most 

 excellent mutton and ship to the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wash- 

 ington markets good early lambs. Breeding flocks of the best breeds 

 are successful and receive good attention. There is an abundance of 

 the best pasturage for sheep, and nothing stands in the way of the indus- 

 try but the destruction caused by the ever present dog and the indiffer- 

 ence of the people to that destruction. Here, however, there is ground 

 for hope in the future. There is agitation for legislation on the dog 

 question that promises good results in the near future, for the question 

 is not a partisan one and appeals to the highest and best interests of 

 the entire people a cheap and healthy food supply. 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



When this portion of the Old Dominion was detached and set up as 

 a separate State it carried about half the sheep of the old State with 

 it. In 1870 it had 552,327, against 370,145 of Virginia proper. The 

 new State embraced in its limits nearly all the fine-wool flocks and 

 some of the best mutton sheep. The pasturage of the new State and 

 its adaptability to successful sheep husbandry is unequaled. In the 

 extreme northwest the finest wool known in the United States has been 

 grown, and the eastern part supplies some of the best mutton sold in 

 the Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore markets. In former 

 years many fine Merino flocks were kept in the counties bordering on 

 Pennsylvania and Maryland, and such is still the case as to those bor- 

 dering Pennsylvania, but those lying adjacent to Maryland now find 

 more profit and advantage in the mutton breeds, of which they raise 

 the best. Early lambs and fat mutton are the specialties of the industry 

 and success crowns the attention given. There are many home flocks 

 in this section kept to supply the family table and the local butcher. 

 In the southwestern part of the State bordering Kentucky, and in the 

 central portion, there are yet many common sheep, and many efforts 

 have been made to improve them by crossing some of the imported 

 varieties on them, but the results have not been attended with great 

 success. The system of husbandry here pursued is not favorable to 

 success, because it is too careless, in that the sheep are not housed in 

 winter. There has been marked improvement in this respect, however, 



