EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 683 



tlie plantation, plowed under and burnt out, was welcomed back as an 

 ally, and the sheep was once more seen around the plantation home. 

 An investigation made by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in 1879, 

 gives some details of progress in different sections of the State. In 

 Claiborne a flock of 100 bred from the native ewes and a Southdown 

 ram sold in the market for $3 per head. All the attention they received 

 in twelve months was salt. A correspondent in Hines County writes : 



I have only been experimenting three years, and during that time have tested the 

 Cotswold on the native ewe and have found the cross of good size, but not so 

 easily fattened. After fattening they are much more easily reduced in flesh than 

 the cross of the Southdown on the common ewe. I have only my original imported 

 Cotswolds two years, having lost all their increase, i. e., the full-bloods. I feel very 

 much encouraged in sheep husbandry and will continue to increase my flock, but 

 can not have over 200 in one flock, as penning more than this number in one inclosure 

 at night will not do in this climate. 



The consensus of many reports was that sheep did well in most 

 parts of the State, and that they could be raised at a very low cost. 

 The bane of the industry was the dog. 



There was an increase in the number of sheep from 1870 to 1880 of 

 more than 20 per cent, and the production of wool was largely increased, 

 marking a gain during the decade of 446,358 pounds. This quantity 

 of wool was the highest in the State's history, though the number of 

 sheep was less than at the period before the war, and was accounted 

 for by the fact that sheep were more extensively raised for wool than 

 for home consumption or market, owing to the increase in the home con- 

 sumption of the fiber by woolen mills that had been established in the 

 State, upon which a Mississippi writer remarks : 



This is but another evidence of the good results which flow from the establishment 

 of manufactures, which create a ready local demand for the raw product to be man- 

 ufactured. The production of wool will steadily increase with the establishment of 

 new mills; improved breeds will be introduced, more time and attention will be de- 

 voted to the industry, and better safeguards will be erected around it. The State is 

 admirably adapted to successful sheep raising, and it only needs the establishment 

 of woolen mills and the vigorous enforcement of friendly legislation to stimulate 

 the industry until it assumes proportions commensurate with the favorable natural 

 conditions which exist. * * *. There seems to be nothing, except dogs, in the 

 way of profitable sheep raising in the State. 



The pine hills and level lands of southern Mississippi are especially 

 well adapted to sheep-raising, and it is in this part of the State that 

 most of them are raised, or, more correctly speaking, succeed in rais- 

 ing themselves. These are the " piney-woods " sheep, and are never 

 cared for from one year to another. They range the woods and old 

 fields in common, and no attention is paid to their improvement. They 

 live on the natural grass of the country, have no diseases, and are 

 very prolific, but unfortunately dogs, hogs, eagles and buzzards claim 

 most of the increase. Their owners realize from 50 to 100 per cent 

 profit on their investment, which satisfies them and they are indifferent 

 to an improvement that would promise more. They shear from 2 to 3 



