SHEEP 355 



attained much prominence in America. About twenty- 

 five years ago, it was prominent, but the Shropshires 

 are now most numerous in the sections to which it is 

 adapted. 



307. Sheep Industry in America. Sheep-growing first 

 developed in eastern United States. Large numbers of 

 Merino sheep were kept for wool-production. As the 

 number of sheep on the ranges of North and South America 

 and Australia increased, and as the cotton-production 

 increased, the price of wool became so low that there 

 was little profit in the sheep industry, even on the ranges. 

 Most farmers in the eastern states went out of the sheep 

 business. Later, the demand for mutton increased, and 

 we now have an increasing number of sheep in the East and 

 Middle West. 



Two of the obstacles that have stood in the way of 

 the sheep industry are fencing and dogs. Many farmers, 

 who might otherwise keep sheep, do not do so because 

 their farms are fenced for cattle. Others fear the dog 

 nuisance, not only for the actual loss of sheep, but because 

 of the annoyance that such troubles cause. The present 

 prices of fencing materials make it possible to fence the 

 sheep in and the dogs out, so that there is little danger. 



There are many farms in the eastern states that are 

 naturally adapted to sheep-production. These farms 

 promise to be the center of a large sheep industry in the 

 future. There are many hill farms in these sections that 

 are now being little used, and that can be made profitable 

 sheep farms as soon as the western ranges are unable to 

 supply the demand for sheep. One of the obstacles in 

 the way is the small size of the farms. It will usually require 



