WEST OF THE ^MISSISSIPPI KIVER. 799 



wool and mutton production. The men making the statements are prac- 

 tical sheepmen, representing the different sheep districts of the State. 

 H. C. Sherman, Sterling, Logan County: 



Brains are required the same as in any other business. It requires constant care 

 and watchfulness ; eternal vigilance is the price of success. It is a losing business 

 without such qualifications, but with them and a good location it is above an aver- 

 age in Colorado. 



H. Giraudot, Orchard, Morgan County : 



AVe generally sell about the same number of wethers and dry ewes as will equal 

 the number of lambs raised. We mean to keep our number good and not increase 

 the number of sheep in the flock. The most profitable flock to run in is a baud of 

 1,500 head. But if the flockmaster has sufficient range to permit a change of pas- 

 ture about twice or three times a month in winter, he could run double the number 

 in the flock. 



J. J. Bristol, Bristol, Larimer County: 



The general outlook for sheep business is not encouraging. The range is over- 

 stocked and vast tracts are fenced, so that there is not the room for the business to 

 extend. For the past six years the business has not been profitable, and nearly all 

 the sheep have been disposed of. This section formerly supported about 75,000 

 sheep; now, there are not 6,000 in the county. 



Dudley and Chalmers, Garo, Park County: 



On account of the altitude, sheep are very free from disease and put on flesh 

 quickly in summer during the green grazing, and Avlien properly taken care of in 

 winter by feeding our very strong, rich hay, they will grow to good size 100 pounds 

 for this class of sheep, which shear 8 pounds or upwards of medium and fine me- 

 dium wool. We never corral with fence except during lambing and shearing season, 

 which makes much less dirt in the wool. 



Ed. West, Trinidad, Las Aniinas County: 



I have handled sheep here for eighteen years. 1 consider them away ahead of any 

 other kind of stock for making money. I have both cattle and horses, but there is 

 no comparison for profits. " Give me more sheep." The care of them is a lonesome 

 life, and they require good management and a live man. No " deadhead" has any 

 business with sheep. Only about one man in five that starts in the business ever 

 makes the sheep business a success in this country. 



Walt. M. Houser, Gardiner, Huerfano County: 



Will say our sheep in Huerfano County are generally of too small carcass, also 

 shear too light a fleece. I think our model sheep should be pure, or half French 

 and one-half Spanish Merino rams, crossed on our common Mexican-grade sheep. I 

 think when wool-growers breed to good rams and procure feed for the flocks in win- 

 ter they will generally be prosperous. 



George F. Hodge, Deer Trail, Arapahoe County: 



Sheep can be kept in this State profitably by any man exercising good judgment 

 and attending to his business. Grain can be got at very low rates, owing to the num- 

 ber of railroads, and hay can be cut almost anywhere. All good sheepmen are pre- 

 pared for winter, and generally come out in spring with feed to spare. For the last 

 three winters there has not been any necessity to feed outside of the range. A sheep 

 well summered is half wintered, and nearly all sheepmen here now understand it so. 



