REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 387 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



as an ordinary farmer would secure if he were starting to raise sheep. Accordingly 

 twenty-five head of young grade range ewes were bought in October at an average cost 

 of $7.35 per head. To these were added a good pure-bred Oxford ram and two Oxford 

 ewes of pure breeding and excellent conformation. Other pure bred ewes will probably 

 be added from time to time and an effort made to breed a flock of good commercial 

 value without a high initial expenditure. 



FENCING. 



The rotation work has entailed the erection of a considerable quantity of new 

 fence to enable the land to be pastured when the rotations call for it. The fencing 

 was necessary with rotations A, B, F, and S. In rotation A and B permanent division 

 fences were erected but in S the outside fence only was made permanent, as portable 

 fences are to be used for divisions when pasturing. 



For the outside and division fences in A and B an eight strand No. 9 wire fence 

 48 inches high with 13 uprights to the rod was used. Six inches above the woven 

 wire one strand of barb wire was stretched to prevent stock reaching over and sagging 

 the fence. The outside fence for the sheep pasture (Rotation S) was a nine strand 

 fence 46 inches high, all No. 9 wire with uprights 10 inches apart. The horizontal 

 wires were spaced as follows : 3, 3£, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 inches. One strand of barbed wire 

 was stretched six inches above the top strand of the woven fence. 



This fence was selected as one which would be coyote proof and in erecting it, 

 particular care was taken to have it close to the ground at all points to prevent coyotes 

 crawling under it. There is a great diversity of opinion among experienced men as to 

 the requisites of a coyote proof fence but every one agrees that it is difficult to keep 

 coyotes out of a pasture once they have gained access to it. This should be borne in 

 mind in erecting the fence and every precaution taken to make a close structure free 

 from loop holes. 



The distance apart of the uprights is also important, as a fence with uprights 10 

 inches apart will turn dogs that can easily go through one where the uprights are 

 16 inches apart. A barbed wire at the top is insurance against coyotes jumping even 

 although it may not be a sure preventative. It is important also to see that all gates 

 are of close mesh, that they are hung close to the ground, and that very little space 

 is left between the gate and the posts, at either end. 



The posts used for the fence were seven foot, green cut cedar, with six-inch tops, 

 except the corner and gate posts which were eight feet long. They were placed twenty 

 feet apart and all corner and gate posts were scurely braced. The amount of fencing 

 done was 2,100 rods. 



We have not yet had an opportunity to see how effective the fence is against coy- 

 otes but this will be reported on from time to time. 



YAKS. 



In last year's report, reference was made to a herd of yaks which had been added 

 to the stock of the Farm. Those on hand at present consist of one bull two years old, 

 two cows two years old and one aged cow. These animals have continued in good 

 health since the last report but have not produced any young. 



They have the run of about thirty acres of rough land which provides sufficient 

 pasturage for summer. In the winter they have no stabling other than an open shed, 

 and are fed hay with a light grain ration. 



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