676 I3WA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



an American as those of you who were born under the Stars and Stripes. 

 Landing in Nebraska in the year of 1874 I went to raising sheep for the 

 wool on the then open prairie. Conditions soon confined to our own land, 

 and settled up very rapidly and we were soon confined to our own land, 

 and we had to change our operations to the raising of corn and hay for 

 feed, and to depend on the sheep breeders of the Western states and 

 territories to raise and furnish us the feeders. 



"In those days we had no college professors and experiment stations 

 to find out for us and tell us how things on the farm should be done, how 

 sheep and cattle should be fed and what constituttes a so-called 'balanced 

 ration' for animals. However we soon found out that two-thirds of 

 shelled corn with one-third oats, by measure, and a little bran or oil 

 meal added as an appetizer and plenty of good bright prairie hay would 

 make very fat sheep in about four months' careful feeding. We had only 

 the Chicago market those days, and tnat was limited. Well do I remem- 

 ber the time w^hen a run of 6,000 head of sheep in the Chicago yards 

 would swamp the market. 



"I shall dwell upon the subject of markets later on and will only say 

 here that since then the American people have learned not only to cook 

 mutton, but also to appreciate this, the cleanest and most healthful of all 

 flesh food. 



"Your state, as I understand it, is just starting in the business of feed- 

 ing sheep and lambs, and as your climatic and crop conditions are very 

 similar to those of Nebraska, I see no reason why you should not succeed 

 equally well, provided you exercise conservatism. 



"The American people have one great characteristic. If a certain busi- 

 ness has paid well for a year or two they rush in and soon cause an 

 over-supply of the commodity. To the new beginner I would say try a few 

 car loads, and if you find yourself adapted to the business, if you like 

 sheep and sheep like you, stick to it, even if the first venture should 

 not be so very profitable. To the old feeder I have no advice to offer, 

 as he probably knows more about it than I do myself, but I have seen 

 old feeders who fed several hundred head very successfully fail when 

 they multiplied the number by ten or twenty. 



"The first essential in feeding sheep, of course, is a never failing sup- 

 ply of good, clear water. We have a well, windmill and large supply 

 tank for every 2,500 sheep, and I favor the placing of small tanks out 

 of which the sheep drink under the shed in such a way that one of them 

 will supply two lots. By putting them under cover they will not be 

 liable to freeze over, and if you bank them up well with manure and 

 have a light cover you will be but little bothered by ice. 



"I have always believed in sheds open to the south, and we have- 

 enough shed room for all of our sheep. Some feeders think diflerently,. 

 but I can sleep better and fell easier during a sleet or snow storm when 

 I know my sheep are dry and comfortable. I favor a comparatively 

 narrow shed — say twenty to twenty four feet wide — running along the 

 north side of the pens. In this way you obtain a great deal of shelter. 

 About three or three and one half square feet per sheep is ample room 



