WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 773 



slieep depend upon their own resources for feed during the winter, it is 

 a fact that, healthy and strong sheep usually come through the winter 

 in good form and condition. 



The class of rams mostly used now are full blooded Merinos, which 

 includes a number of the.French. Heretofore, many of the flock-mas- 

 ters have been content to use home-grown or grade bucks; but as the 

 methods improve and profits increase, the quality of the bucks improves. 

 As mentioned, before, the mutton breed bucks are being used with sat- 

 isfactory results. The cross of the Shropshire ram on the Merino ewe 

 produces a hardy and profitable animal of good size, with an average- 

 weight fleece of high-priced wool. The rams used are two years old and 

 upwards. The number of ewes given each ram varies from 35 to 75, 

 an average of from 40 to 50 ewes. The ram remains with the flock 

 about thirty days from the middle of December ; however, some flock- 

 masters permit the rams to run with the flock until spring or shearing 

 time. 



The average per cent of lambs raised varies accoiding to circum- 

 stances, governed by the favorable or unfavorable location of the range. 

 It is a rare occurrence to raise less than 75 per cent o/ the lambs ; fre- 

 quently they save as high as 80 or 90 per cent. If the ewes are in good 

 condition and mature they seldom fail to breed, unless the rams are 

 taken away within thirty days, when from 5 to 10 percent fail to breed. 



It is remarkable how little winter feeding is done. As a rule no 

 grain is fed, except in rare cases, when the flock is favorably located 

 near the railroad, or when a few choice rams or other pure-bred slieep 

 are held where grain is accessible. The usual winter feeding consists 

 of hay fed during a few stormy days in midwinter, not to exceed an 

 average of a dozen days. Sheds for protection are as rare a provision 

 as winter feeding. The flockmaster trusts to nature, and her provis- 

 ions consist of the mountain sides, canyons, willow, or sagebrush, bluffs, 

 and foothills. The severe storms come from the east or the north. 

 The exceptional artificial shelter consists of underground stables or 

 cheaply constructed sheds. 



Very little land is owned or leased by the sheepmen. They use for 

 the greater part Government land. The portion of the land that con- 

 stitutes the home ranch is usually small in area and contains the win- 

 ter corral, dipping pens, and perhaps some hay land; this small tract 

 is frequently leased. 



The main object of sheep-raising in Wyoming has been the produc- 

 tion of wool, but the objects now seem to be both wool and mutton, 

 and the latter, with the class of sheep now grown, is at present the 

 most profitable. But sales tend to the decimation of the flocks, though 

 it is fortunate that the surplus sheep can be disposed of profitably. 



Sheep-shearing in this State takes place either during May or June. 

 When a gang of sheap-shearers make their appearance in a county, a 

 date is fixed and a suitable place arranged for the shearing, which is 



