farmers" institutes. 497 



cided advantage roamiug over a place, but where they are well cared 

 for the place looks better with sheep on it. 



Besides all this there are two yearly profits, the wool clip and the 

 early marketed lambs. By proper management the fleece should be clear 

 of burs, and lambs averaging GO pounds in weight, while prices are al- 

 ways good for early matured lambs. 



In making a start in sheep husbandry of course there will be some 

 preliminary expense, the first purchase, preparing shelter, etc., yet one 

 need not branch out too heavily at the first start, as an increase with 

 proper care sometimes is astonishingly satisfactory. 



To whoever has any intention of embarking in the sheep raising in- 

 dustry, my advice would lie, first be careful and select the breed that 

 you thinlv you would like best, and then hold to it, and improve it by 

 careful selection each year of a better buck, as lie is lialf the flock. With 

 all the care that possibly can Ije taken at times there will be reverses, 

 sometimes discouraging, unavoidable losses. What business is there that 

 is altogether free from what some would say bad luck? It is said that 

 a person born lucky has no need of sense. I believe if I had my choipe, 

 I would take sense. (Too late now.) Thick is far more to be desired than 

 depending upon luck. I have had sheep different times for many years. 

 The flock of eighteen head of ewes that I have now, were started from 

 fourteen Shropshires purchased about fifteen years ago. I have en- 

 deavored to improve tliem every year. Year liefore last. 1901. I sustained 

 losses that were really discouraging, six from GO to SO pound lambs died 

 from the effects of stomach worms, and a .?40 buck, with three ewes, 

 that cost |50, died from bloat, occasioned from eating rape. Now I don't 

 say they were worth that much, I only say they cost me that. They were 

 pedigreed. I have ewes in my flock lietter than one pedigreed sent me 

 that cost $o0. that I would not think of pricing higher than .$10. So I 

 have reason for disliking pedigreed sheep. It all depends upon tlie in- 

 tegrity of the man. Last year being exceedingly wet, after such a hard 

 winter, resulted in great parasitic fatality. Perhaps it was noticeable by 

 many persons present, the cow-fly pest. They Avere not near so numerous 

 as they were the previous year. Even the house fly seemed to be di- 

 minished in numliers. Ii^ conse(iuence of the absence of stomach worms 

 I did not lose a sheep or lamb the past year. As the head of my flock of 

 eighteen ewes is a fullblood thoroughbred Shropshire Initting Inick; not a 

 Jersey, neither of the dairy strain, Init a more solid firm type of stock. 

 He is affectionate, and manifests his appreciation of good company in a 

 marked degree, flakes up readily with a stranger, and he is by no means 

 backward in introducing himself. He has been criticised as being a little 

 too hasty in his advances upon short acquaintance. He takes no offense 

 wlien one's back is turned toward him on account of his familiarity. These 

 characteristic traits have no tendency in injuring his lireeding qualities, 



:^— Board of A, 



