14 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



vour most weeds along with the good forage, and 

 they leave behind them a wake of fruitful soil. 



In America sheep farming is little understood. 

 Sheep are kept in a more or less desultory manner, 

 having the run of some hill pasture or woodland, 

 fed at intervals in winter, sold off when prices be- 

 come low, bought up again with the return of higher 

 prices, given small care or encouragement, often 

 afflicted with parasites, internal and external, a side 

 issue with the farmer, profitable in spite of his 

 neglect, yet not often assuming the dignity of a 

 business of themselves. There are several reasons 

 for this state. It is in part a heritage of the days 

 when sheep were little valued for their flesh and 

 were kept mainly for their fleeces. It is in part a 

 result of our once cheap lands and insufficient labor 

 with which to till them. And in large part it is be- 

 cause of ignorance of profitable methods. When 

 sheep thrive their owners gladly reap the profits; 

 when they become diseased and unprofitable it is 

 usually charged to ' ' bad luck. ' ' There need be small 

 element of luck or chance in sheep management. 

 There is always a reason for thrift and for un- 

 thrift in the flock. There need rarely be any disease 

 in the flock. A healthy sheep is certain to be a profit- 

 able one. 



There is at this time good reason for thinking 

 seriously of these problems of sheep husbandry be- 

 cause of the increase of mutton consumption, and 

 the fact that while there is some increase in produc- 

 tion it does not at all keep pace with the increased 



