418 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



shirk a task when it is imposed upon me, I shall make the endeavor, 

 feeling that he who makes the effort is the one who is rewarded,, 

 rather than they who hear it read. 



While the subject is Wool and Textile Fibres, yet it must be treated 

 in a more general way: The animal, its value for food, its offspring, 

 its habits, danger from enemies as well as for its fleece. 



THE ANIMAL 



The sheep must first be considered. Does anything on the farm 

 appeal so much to the farmer and his boys as a flock of fine sheep? 

 The innocence of the young lamb, the gentleness of the grown sheep, 

 the almost human instinct of the mother when caring for her young, 

 and even the more vigorous efforts of the male to protect the flock 

 from enemies. Even his attack upon the shepherd during an unwary 

 moment, and arousing his ire for the time is soon forgotten in the 

 large fleece he will yield at shearing, or the sturdy lambs that will 

 be seen skipping on the hillside in the gentle springtime. 



Where sheep originated is a question difficult to answer. They are 

 the first of the animals domesticated by man, and reasonably so, 

 since they supply the two principal wants of the barbarian, food 

 and clothing. They are found in every country, not entirely savage, 

 from the Artie to the Torrid Zones. 



There are many distinct varieties of sheep ; some valuable for their 

 wool, some for their flesh, and others are dual purpose, producing a 

 good fleece and still have a fine carcass. The selection of a flock 

 will therefore depend upon the purpose for which they are kept. If 

 the production of wool is the principal aim, then individuals of the 

 wool breeds should be secured. But the flesh of the sheep has be- 

 come so well known as an article of food that it ranks high today 

 as one of the best of meats on the market; not only in quality but 

 in price. Some years ago it was contended by certain consumers that 

 the flesh tasted from the wool, but the skillful butcher can satisfy 

 anyone that this is a fallacy. Hence when the flesh is good for food 

 and the wool for garments and cloth, one of the medium wool breeds 

 should be selected. 



Among the more prominent breeds are the Leicesters, Cotswolds, 

 Southdowns, the Lincolns. Oxfords, Shropshires and Merinos. The 

 Lincoln sheep were first imported into the United States in 1835. 

 The Cotswold in 1832. The breeding of the Merinos was begun by 

 Mr. Atwood in 1813. In any case, whatever may be the breed, it is 

 important that strong, vigorous animals be secured. Sheep, like 

 other animals, should have good size. 



In starting a flock of sheep the inexperienced man should begin 

 with a small number, probably twelve or fifteen ewes. We have 

 found on our farm that the Merino ewe was a very profitable one 

 to keep. A little harder to winter, not being quite so hardy as some 

 of the other breeds but not so hard to summer not requiring so much 

 range, not so likely to jump and not so liable to disease, and when 

 bred to a ram of some of the open wooled breeds, the lambs werjfe 

 large and good sellers, never failing to make a good profit. Quoting 

 from the Secretary of the Delaine Merinos Association: "The im- 

 portance of a better fleece is the leading question of today among 

 breeders who are trying to produce better Merinos. Wool of a higher 



