1906.] ESSENTIALS IN FUTURE SHEEP BREEDING. 55 



(lodge. We will say then, that the first essential thing is to 

 have some sheep on the farm, and the next, that they must 

 be properly taken care of. In my connection with the Na- 

 tional Stockman, and other farming publications, I have fre- 

 quently had men write to me, asking about their sheep. Now 

 what is to be the first essential thing in reviving the sheep 

 industry in Connecticut, or all over New England for that 

 matter, and in New York and these other states? In the first 

 place, it seems to me, Mr. President, that you people here in 

 Connecticut, or in New England, have a great opportunity in 

 this connection which other sections of the country do not 

 possess. I believe that you have an opportunity here of rais- 

 ing sheep so that they will pay you at least forty per cent, 

 more than anywhere in the West. Land can be bought for 

 from forty to sixty per cent, less in Connecticut and Massa- 

 chusetts, and in most all of the New England States, than 

 it can in the Far West. I know that from my experience in 

 my own business. I have been out in the West and I can tell 

 you that is the situation. I was there this summer and I was 

 there four years ago. So I am not talking through my hat 

 when I say that. It is a plain fact. Sheep can be raised 

 cheaper here than they can be raised at any point east of the 

 Mississippi River today because, first, the investment is much 

 less for land, which is one of the main things, and then besides 

 that, you have water here in abundance, while in the Far 

 West they have a great deal of trouble on that account. 



What will be the next thing? I said in the beginning that 

 the sheep of the country, its lambs, that are now bringing from 

 seven to seven and one-half and eight cents a pound, and as 

 high as nine cents for some grades in the Chicago market, — 

 that is, lambs dropped in May, and when they will bring such 

 prices as that many a man will sell them off. The tendency, 

 therefore, will be to sell off the lamb crop. I will guarantee 

 you that because it is the money that the man is after, and 

 ninety per cent, of the 1905 crop of lambs will, in my judgment, 

 be eaten before the first day of next April. Now the first 

 essential thing for a man to do that is getting six, seven, eight, 

 nine, or ten cents, is to keep his old ewes, and to make up his 

 mind that no matter what the price may be next year he will 

 save his best ewe lambs. Now the next essential is this : you 

 must make up your mind that if you cannot raise the sheep 



