EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 655 



A recent report upon the live-stock industry of the State says that 

 while there are yet many choice flocks of pure-bred Spanish Merinos 

 in the southeastern part of Wisconsin, the fluctuations of the wool mar- 

 ket have in recent times impaired, if not wholly destroyed, the profits 

 of wool-growing, and the stud flocks of Merinos have been maintained 

 by the sale of choice breeding animals to other parts of the world. 

 Meantime the steady demand and good prices for choice mutton and 

 lambs, together with improved skill in mutton- sheep husbandry, have 

 greatly increased the interest in the heavier breeds of sheep. Cots- 

 wolds, Leicesters, and the various classes of Downs have been quite 

 largely introduced and find here every condition for success. The soil, 

 for the greater part, is a strong fertile loam, the surface gently rolling, 

 and producing rich grasses. The sheep are pastured on this in summer 

 and kept through tho winter on corn fodder, ungrouud oats, bran, 

 clover hay, and timothy. 



In the river counties 



the competition of cheap Western lands and of foreign wool-growers has rendered 

 the keeping of Merino sheep for the wool alone anything but a profitable business 

 on high-priced agricultural land. But the pushing, wide-awake farmers, instead of 

 supinely sitting down and bemoaning their losses, began to change their methods 

 to meet the new conditions. Merino sheep, except choice stud flocks, are being 

 largely replaced by English long-wooled and Down breeds. The rich river bottoms 

 have proved to be well adapted to the growth and success of Lincoln, Cotswold, and 

 Leicester sheep, and the hilly pastures, fertile and well covered with nutritious 

 grasses, furnish all the conditions needed for the Shropshire and other Downs. 

 These changes, however, have been very gradual. 



In January, 1891, the number of sheep in the State, as reported by the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, was 889,910, at an average value per 

 head of $2.92. In January, 1892, the number was reported as 907,708, 

 at an average price of $2.90. The very slight increase since January, 

 1891, has been entirely in the mutton breeds, and it is known that the 

 increase of 98,700 since January, 1890, has been confined entirely to the 

 mutton sheep, and that the Merinos number much less now than they 

 numbered then. 



With the increase of the English mutton breeds has come a change, 

 a decided improvement in the care and feed. The Merinos would eat 

 weeds and live as no other animal will, but to a successful mutton sheep 

 culture more attention and diversified feed became necessary, and that 

 attention is now being given. The flocks do not run so large, and more 

 grain is fed them. There is a tendency to the English system both of 

 care and feed, and latterly rape has been used to a limited extent, but 

 with much success. 



In the report of the Wisconsin agricultural experiment station for 

 1891, Prof. W. A. Henry says, "not until our assessors report at least 

 3,000,000 sheep within our borders will this station have done its duty 

 by this single interest, " an interest second only to the dairy husbandry 

 of the State. There are millions of acres of land in the State preerni- 



