WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 767 



Frank M. Byrne, Miranda, Faulk County : 



I think the Merinos are best adapted to our conditions. I prefer the Delaines. 

 On account of our dry, cold winters and healthy climate I am of the opinion we can 

 raise as good fleeces as can he raised in the world, and because of our distance from 

 markets, making freight charges an important consideration, I think wool more 

 profitable than mutton, and shall in future breed accordingly. I have been engaged 

 ill the sheep industry here three years. 



G. B. Pope, Estelline, Hamlin Connty: 



My sheep are paying 100 per cent profit now. We offset manure with the keeping 

 expense, and the difference is in favor of the manure. This, of course, is where sheep 

 are k<-pt ns an adjunct to mixed fanning; on sheep ranges this will not apply. 

 Western sheep do better here than Eastern sheep, as the latter do not thrive on our 

 grass at first. 



F. M. Hopkins, Eoscoe, Edmunds County: 



We have just wintered 800 head of sheep on hay and no grain. They were kept 

 in the sheds forty days during the winter ; balance of time they were out every day 

 grazing. Total loss for the year past was 2 per cent. Lambs came during May, 

 when the ewes have plenty of milk, and we are saving 90 per cent of lambs. Plenty 

 of range in the hilly and rough lands, which will not be taken for a number of years ; 

 I mean Government lands. Plenty of hay in the sloughs in these rough lands. 



J. B. Geddis, Virgil, Beadle County: 



I have been in the sheep business for eight years and have nevei had any disease 

 among the sheep or met with any losses, and have realized over 90 per cent of lambs 

 each year, with a profit in wool and lambs of from 75 to 100 per cent on the investment. 

 1 graze them on wild prairie that does not cost any rent and feed millet in winter 

 have never fed any grain. The dry atmosphere is almost a sure preventive against 

 disease. Dip twice a year, which destroys all ticks and improves the wool. Sheep 

 always fat and ready for market. 



D. Koberts, Faulkton, Faulk County: 



South Dakota seems to be perfectly adapted to sheep-raising. Crops have failed 

 for the last two years, and people are somewhat discouraged in raising grain and are 

 all anxious to go into sheep . Hundreds will go into the business, as soon as they 

 can get the sheep, who have never handled them before. I look for many failures 

 among such ; but the careful, industrious man has no cause to fail in sheep husbandry 

 here. 



David Hall, Ney, Sully County: 



I have only been in the business about a year and ten months. If I get even as 

 low a price for wool this year as last, it will more than pay for my sheep with the 

 second clip and have $100 over. I have never fed any grain to my sheep since I 

 owned them. The wild grass here makes the best hay for sheep when cut green in 

 July or August. When crops are harvested sheep run at large without a herder, 

 and wild animals never kave attempted to molest them. Anyone can lease thou- 

 sands of acres of loan companies for pay ing taxes, which amount from $10 to $18 per 

 quarter section. 



G. W. McLaughlin, Onida, Sully County: 



I have had a flock of sheep in this, Sully County, S. Dak., for the last five years, 

 and they have done well. Have had them out on shares part of the time. I get one- 

 third of the wool and one-half increase, and they have paid me 30 to 40 per cent on 

 the investment; have over 600 now. We do not need grain, and can take good mut- 

 ton out of flock at any time. Hay can be put in stack for $1 to $1.50 per ton, and 

 last winter we did not commence feeding hay until January 31, and a year ago com- 

 menced December 28. 



