Sheep Breeders' Association. 127 



prizes in competition with imported animals from the crack flocks 

 of Europe. Then during the afternoon of that same day, when 

 America's record sheep sale was held in the sheep pavilion on the 

 fair grounds, 140 head of sheep selling at auction at an average of 

 over $50 per head, and every animal but four sold to a Missourian 

 for spot cash, it dawned upon the members of this Association that 

 organization of their kind does organize, does develop, advance and 

 elevate an industry. That sale did other things — it not only re- 

 generated America's wool map, but it caused the sheep men of the 

 English speaking world to revise their estimate of Missouri. It 

 was reported and commented upon by practically every agricultural 

 paper in America. Without the existence of the organization of 

 the Missouri Sheep Breeders it could not — and would not — have 

 been held. 



Such in brief is a conservative statement of the net results 

 accomplished by this lusty infant now 15 months old, and with its 

 membership roster nearing the 400 mark. But its work is only be- 

 gun. There are yet about 1,800 Missouri sheep men not enrolled 

 with it, and there is room and need for five million more sheep in 

 Missouri to give us an average of 20 head per farm. So far as I 

 have been able to ascertain there are now but three State Sheep 

 Breeders' Associations having a larger enrolled membership than 

 Missouri — those are Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico, each of 

 which has had organizations for many years. 



If there be truth in the maxim that "well begun is half done," 

 our members can persevere with renewed courage determined to 

 quadruple their membership, to make the quality of their sheep the 

 equal of the world's best, and to ornament Missouri's hills and 

 dales with added thousands of the "golden hoofs." 



SHALL WE USE WESTERN EWES? 



(J. W. Boles, Auxvasse, Mo.) 



I would not advocate using any except the very best ewes. 

 Whatever I handle or whatever principle I advocate I try to advo- 

 cate something good. I will say there are conditions under which 

 I think it is all right to use western ewes. One of those conditions 

 is if they are the best that we can afford, use them, but do not 

 use them too often. If we were to advocate using western ewes 

 to advance sheep industry in the State of Missouri, we would just 



