EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 687 



reported wliere a gentleman purchased 1,000 head of sheep for $1,000 

 and turned them in the woods back of his plantation, and never gave 

 them any attention, except to salt them once a week, and that he had 

 not failed to sell $1,500 worth of wool and sheep each year for eight 

 years in succession. 



But while Alabama possesses arlN'autages to make this business one of great pro- 

 portions even as an export pursuit, she does not grow wool cnongli to clothe one- 

 third of her population. We continually hear of hard times, scarcity of money, 

 wasted soils, and scanty crops. We see a spirit of unrest and instability character- 

 ize our laboring classes, and here at our doors are several millions of acres of pas- 

 toral lands as well adapted to wool-growing as those are in the countries we have enu- 

 merated, and only waiting the spirit of enterprise to develop them into paying invest- 

 ments. The mania for cotton has been transmitted from father to son, and like other 

 forms of insanity which are hereditary, it seems to be well-nigh incurable. * 



The adaptability of Alabama to raise wool in large quantities is un- 

 questioned, and it can grow as fine a quality as any other State in the 

 Union. But with all its advantage C-r so doing it has some peculiar 

 disadvantages, and these are set forth by the writer just quoted : 



Of all our domestic animals, our people have the greatest aversion to sheep. The 

 sentiment uttered long years ago by John Randolph, that he "would go out of his 

 way at any time to kick a sheep," is unfortunately too general to be removed. Our 

 ideas of sheep husbandry are based upon the few ragged animals we see upon some 

 of our farms, which are really repulsive. The difference between them and the bet- 

 ter grades of the Merino and Cotswold is as striking as that between the Indian pony of 

 the West and the fine thoroughbred horses of England, or of the common cattle of the 

 country and the fine imported stock of our Middle States. 



Time, patience, and attention are the chief factors in the development of any 

 branch of industry. "We first used the hoe exclusively in the cultivation of cotton; 

 the lint was separated from the seed by the fingers, and then used only to supply the 

 home demand. With the introduction of the better and hardier breeds of sheep, 

 with more care in their management, more system in sheltering and pasturage, a 

 feeling of interest would soon supplant that of aversion, and this industry would 

 soon develop more rapidly than has cotton. To effectually secure this position for 

 sheep husbandry the legislature of the State would ha\e, perhaps, to be invoked, at 

 least to the extent of .securing protection against dogs. There is too much intelli- 

 gence in Alabama to listen with patience longer to the opinions of those of our legisla- 

 tors who are too timid, or with too little sympathy with our rural population to extend 

 protection to industries vital to our well-being. Tlu^ good of the public is best pro- 

 moted by extending protectiim to those who bear its burdens, and the law-maker 

 who shrinks from a plain duty affixes to las name tlie suspicion that personal aims 

 with him are superior to the general good. Legislation upon this subject is unques- 

 tionably needed, and to secure it we have to depend upon the diffusion of a more 

 enlightened sentiment among those whose interests are affected by it. 



The force of these remarks concerning the dog will be appreciated 

 when it is known that 20 per cent of the sheep of the State are annually 

 killed by dogs. Is it strange that sheep husbandry is unpopular? Is 

 it not strange that there are any flocks in the State ? The reports made 

 to the United States Department of Agriculture blend in one contin- 

 uous wail about dogs. In 1885, " the low price of wool and destruction 



♦ Address of Dr, C. M, Howard befgre the Alabama Agricultural Society. 



