16 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



general healthfulness of flocks in that arid region 

 have had a deterring influence upon the sheep in- 

 dustry in the old farming states. Now, however, 

 that the ranges seem unable to supply the mutton 

 that is demanded by our consumers it is time to for- 

 get their menace and to take up again our old trade 

 of shepherding on our eastern farms. 



There are several excellent reasons why this is a 

 rational and promising industry in which to embark. 

 The ranges are now fully stocked with cattle and 

 sheep. To increase the numbers of sheep means to 

 drive out more cattle and this the cattle men are re- 

 sisting by armed force. On many of the drier ranges 

 the sheep have overpastured the grass till much of it 

 has been destroyed root and branch, and thus its car- 

 rying power is much decreased. Settlers are taking 

 the land in every irrigable valley and fencing it, and 

 there is thus in every way a steady diminution in 

 the numbers of sheep on the ranges. Nor can it be 

 seen how this may be checked and their numbers 

 made to increase, seeing that alfalfa forms almost 

 the sole forage grown in that arid region and this 

 is not a crop suited to careless grazing of large 

 bands of sheep by hireling herders. 



Consider again that the prejudice that at one time 

 existed against mutton eating has almost died away. 

 The cities are eating all the mutton that they can 

 get and are paying for it often more than they are 

 paying for beef or pork. There are doubtless several 

 excellent reasons for this. Fashion is one. The 

 fact that crowds of our people visit England every 



