Sheep Breeders' Association. 129 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Carroll — If you did use a western ewe, how would you use 

 it to the best advantage ? 



Mr. Boles — If I were to use a western ewe, or any other kind 

 of a ewe, I would always use her with a pure bred sire. I would 

 not breed to a grade sire of any kind. If I could not buy the best 

 I would buy the best I could and would want him to be pure bred. 

 I would not have a grade anything. I wouldn't have a grade dog 

 if I was paid to keep him. I don't believe in grades. 



Q. You made the statement a few minutes ago that you would 

 advise a man, if he did not have more than $25, to invest in 12 

 ewes, to buy those 12 ewes at $25. Would you advise him to do 

 that, or to borrow $25, making it $50, and buy 12 better ewes; or 

 would you advocate the idea of staying out of debt entirely? 



Mr. Boles — Well, no, if I did I would be advocating something 

 I don't do myself. No, I don't mean for you not to go in debt; 

 but if you think you can not afford to invest more than a small 

 amount in sheep, buy what your farm will carry and carry right, 

 and then breed up with a pure bred sire and keep the produce of 

 that and continue to breed up. 



Q. What kind of sheep do you favor? 



Mr. Boles — In regard to the kind of sheep to breed, that de- 

 pends on the individual. Some like one breed and some another. 

 Some prefer the Merino, the fine wool sheep; others prefer a 

 coarser wool. Some like the large sheep, others admire those of 

 medium size. Breed the kind you fancy. 



Prof. Mumford — Is it not a fact that we are keeping the sheep 

 for the profit of them, and is it not a fact that by using the western 

 ewes and raising early lambs from them we derive greater profit 

 than in any other way? 



Mr. Boles — I don't know. I take this ground about that: 

 While a western ewe that will weigh 75 pounds will produce a good 

 lamb, a ewe of better quality that will produce a better lamb is 

 worth more and is no more expensive to care for than the cheaper 

 ewe. I have never bred many western ewes. I don't have any de- 

 sire to do so. I think they are fully as healthful as our native ewes. 

 We can take them and keep them for one or probably two seasons, 

 but this thing of using western ewes and selling off the produce 

 and not breeding up, not grading up, I think is a detriment to the 

 sheep industry of this State. It is not going in the right direction. 



A-9 



