WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 833 



Samuel Russell, West Grove, Davis County : 



To make the sheep business profitable one must pay strict attention to the flock 

 every day ; exercise care in selecting rams for breeding purposes ; keep sheep out of 

 mud, dirt, chaff, and hayseed ; have a nice, clean place in which to shear the sheep 

 and store the wool ; tie up fleeces nicely and carefully, throwing out all filthy tags, 

 etc., so as to have the wool look nicely and clean. Have shade trees in summer 

 pasture, change pastures frequently, have water so sheep can get it when they wish ; 

 also keep salt, copperas, and sulphur mixed in troughs for them to run to, and you 

 will make good money with sheep. 



James E. Picken, Ottumwa, Wapello County : 



I, with my father, have been interested in sheep in this county since 1850. At 

 one time we had plenty of out-range and ran large flocks, but now the farms are all 

 inclosed and I only keep from 600 to 800. I am now crossing Merino ewes with 

 Shropshire bucks, as the price of wool is low and the demand for mutton growing. 



Lewis Bigelow, Atlantic, Cass County: 



At the present time sheep husbandry here is in its infancy, there being only about 

 4,000 sheep in the county. In 1890 my sheep doubled their value in lambs and wool. 

 Last year they increased in value about 80 per cent, and the prospect for this year 

 is very flattering. The wool gives us an early and extra source of revenue over 

 that of any other kind of live stock, while our climate and soil cannot be surpassed 

 for this business. 



T. J. Rosengrant, Garden Grove, Decatur County: 



I never breed from anything but pure-bred rams, and never allow any one to pick 

 over my flock. That I do myself, and I never let myself get overstocked. Our soil 

 is such that it produces the finest quality of blue grass and white clover, all of which 

 is superior sheep feed, and as the land is not flat, the sheep keep in a good, healthy 

 condition. Dogs are the greatest drawback to the business, while the wolves get 

 worse every year. The outlook is very encouraging, though the present high prices 

 keep a great many from investigating. The average size of eighteen flocks nearest 

 to me is 143 head. 



J. A. Hamilton, Kirkville, Wapello County: . 



I have been as successful as I expected to be in the sheep business. On our roll- 

 ing land we have the best of grasses for summer use, and then feed is plenty and 

 cheap for winter use. The business is growing, as the price of mutton is good. We 

 are crossing on our Merinos with coarse-wooled and mutton rams, thus increasing 

 their size. The loss of sheep by dogs is greater than that by all other causes com- 

 bined. 



Henry Bell, Atlantic, Cass County: 



There is no kind of live stock that pays as well on the investment, when good care 

 is given, as sheep. Our greatest difficulty to contend against is wire fences, dogs, 

 and wolves. Against these we have no protection. A small flock of good sheep is 

 a great advantage to any farm. 



E. B. Atchison, Albia, Monroe County: 



My father had sheep before me, so I was interested in sheep quite early in life. 

 Now I am near middle age and am always delighted in having the best sheep. Until 

 a few years ago I believed the best were always found in the Vermont Merinos, but 

 times have changed and progression is going on, so am I, and now I have the Dickin- 

 son Delaine Merino, whose wool sells 3 cents higher than any other kind. I care 

 for rnv sheep's health as I do for my own; don't let them suffer for feed, and don't 



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