Sheep Breeders' Association. 



369 



EARLY LAMBS. 

 On Farm of E. R. Stroeter. 



I generally shear about May 1st and use the machine clipper. 

 The wool is tied in cubical blocks by means of a wool press. The 

 blocks are about eleven inches square and tied with wool twine 

 three times each way. The thickness of the blocks depends on the 

 size of the fleece. I am always complimented on the neat appear- 

 ance of my wool when marketed. My ewes average about 8 lbs. 

 of wool per head yearly. 



I never keep the same bunch of ewes longer than three years, 

 as I get better results by changing. I also cull out barren ewes or 

 ewes that have raised a poor lamb every fall. I fatten old ewes 

 and wethers in the fall, up to about the middle of December. I 

 usually fatten by turning in a corn field in which rape and cow- 

 peas have been sown at last cultivation of corn. I prefer this 

 method but corn and clover hay have given me good gains and 

 an excellent quality of dressed mutton. 



My loss of sheep is not very great, and what few I do lose die 

 just shortly before lambing time. 



I always try and market my lambs as early as possible, but 

 this year a person hardly knew when to sell on account of such a 

 change in the market. I marketed my first the second week in 

 June. This year, 1908, I decided to keep back my best ewe lambs 

 for breeding, as the market was low and I hated to see such choice 

 ewe lambs go at a low figure. 



A-24 



