G86 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



ALABAMA. 



The sheep husbandry of Alabama is similar to that of Mississippi, 

 just described, and to that of Georgia bounding it on the east. The 

 foundation is the English scrub in the north of the State, and the 

 Spanish scrub in the south. The progress of the industry has been an 

 unaided struggle for existence on the part of the sheep on one hand, 

 and the persistent "voracity of the dog, the eagle, the vulture, and other 

 xavagers on the other. There was but little attention paid to sheep, 

 and no effort made for their improvement worthy of note. A few Meri- 

 nos found their way into the northern part of the State between 1820 

 and 1840, bub they made no impression. In 1840 there were 163,243 

 sheep in the State, yielding 220,353 pounds of wool, or an average of 

 1.35 pounds per head. Sheep were raised for wool only, for domestic 

 purposes. It was the same in 1850 j wool was used for making home- 

 spun clothing and the sheep were of the most common kind. There 

 was the beginning of an improvement about 1853, and two small lots of 

 French Merinos from the flock of S. W. Jewett, of Vermont, were taken 

 into the State. A few improved English breeds were introduced about 

 the same time and there was an interest engendered in sheep, but the 

 war of secession came on and thoughts were turned in other directions. 

 Sheep were then doubled in number from 1840 to 1850, and maintained 

 their number from 1850 to 1860. The weight of the fleece increased 

 very perceptibly where any care was taken of the flock. But there 

 was little care bestowed. A few sheep only were kept upon the farms, 

 and their wool was regarded of no special value beyond supplying the 

 limited wants of the landlord. The war reduced the number of sheep 

 one-half j there was a partial recovery by 1870 and a gratifying increase 

 after that time. The culture of cotton beginning at the close of the 

 war was overdone, and many turned their attention to live stock and 

 the cultivation of grasses. Sheep shared in the general disposition to 

 such new avenues of agricultural industry, and some improved sheep 

 were introduced into the State, and with them better care. But the 

 improvement was confined to a few localities and to a limited number of 

 people. The generality of the people had a great aversion to sheep, 

 and the raising of them was not looked upon as a respectable and dig- 

 nified pursuit. Still there were those who pursued it and made money. 

 A farmer in Lauderdale reported many instances of small flocks paying 

 over 100 per cent on investment, the manure not taken into considera- 

 tion. Some grade sheep were then (1878) being raised that would 

 average from 7 to 9 pounds of wool, and a few that would go to 10 and 

 15 pounds. There was a general disposition to cultivate grasses in 

 some localities, and Bermuda grass was permitted to take possession 

 of old cotton fields. In most of the States sheep were not fed at all, 

 and it cost but little to rear them. The general opinion was that they 

 did better running at large than if kept penned and fed. A case is 



