480 IO\YA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



squarely and produce the best sheep you possibly can and exhibit them 

 fairly. Sound business principles with a respect for others is the only 

 solid foundation to be laid for the future. That does not mean that energy 

 should be slackened, because success is the result of labor. Work as 

 hard as you can, but do everything honestly. The exhibitor who has any 

 other principle may for a while seem to be succeeding but as time goes 

 on, the world will notice that so-called success turning to failure. A good 

 many things will stand in fine appearance when all is well but when real 

 tests come it is the sound, high-principled exhibitor that stands and the 

 others that fall. Work hard against those that really do the industry 

 harm by inflating jealousy, etc., but always assist the man whose aim is 

 for the right goal. The best breeders must unite to advance general in- 

 terests. Selfishness is not included in the true show-ring spirit, and even 

 with strong men it is a gain for today and a loss for tomorrdw. The true 

 exhibitor goes to the show to build up his reputation and help advance his 

 breed and the industry. When we have studied deep down into the foun- 

 dation principles which when combined will bring about these results we 

 will have learned what if applied will cause us to have the true show-ring 

 spirit. It is important and desirable that agricultural exhibitions be held 

 to help general breeders to have higher ideals and also to stimulate the 

 exhibitors to steady improvement in their flocks. Therefore it is the per- 

 sonal duty of each exhibitor to do his full part in assisting to bring about 

 these results. Will any other than straight principles make object lessons 

 which if copied after will make real advancement? Truly the exhibitor 

 has first in mind his own welfare and the spreading of his reputation, but 

 a broad mind, a generous heart, straight dealing, and good sheep are all 

 that will ever bring him lasting personal gain. Do well by others and they 

 will do well by you. The true show-ring spirit is broad and really helps 

 everyone in the sheep business and gives spectators and beginning breeders 

 high ideals. Talking with some exhibitors is an inspiration and they fill 

 your mind with great and good thoughts, while other men will in the end 

 make you feel mean and selfish; the former have the true show-ring spirit 

 and the others have not. Try to be of the former class. 



MANAGEMENT OP THE BREEDING FLOCK. 



The breeder's year really begins when the ewes are mated in the aut- 

 umn, so wa will first refer to the mating season. During recent years a 

 great deal of attention has been given to flushing breeding ewes. 



This is a practice which is now being taken up by nearly all leading 

 breeders in America, and for many years has been practiced in Great Bri- 

 tain and other foreign countries. The term "flushing" is applied to hav- 

 ing the ewes rapidly gaining in flesh at the time ram is turned with them 

 for mating. 



There is abundant evidence that "flushing" hastens forward the mating 

 time. It has been fully demonstrated that "heat" in animals is brought 

 about through the action of an internal secretion elaborated by the ovaries 

 (or organs which give rise to the ova or female germ cells). It would 

 appear, therefore, that the artificial feeding which would be given the 



