WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 859 



and of robust constitution. The mutton breeds arc very much more 

 popular, and there is great demand for the Cotswold, Shropshire, and 

 Southdown bucks. The age of service rams ranges from one to seven 

 years, although the preference of experienced sheep-owners is for bucks 

 from two to five years old." 



There seems to be quite a diversity of opinion among sheep-owners as 

 to the proper time of breeding, number of ewes given each ram, and 

 the length of time he should remain with the flock. The month pre- 

 ferred is October or November, although some breed as late as Decem- 

 ber and others as early as August and September. The early breeding, 

 however, is confined mainly to those who make a specialty of raising 

 lambs to come early. The number of ewes given to each ram depends 

 somewhat on the breed, the condition of the animal, and the care given 

 him during the breeding season. The best breeders recommend the 

 hand-breeding system, the same as with horses, in order to secure better 

 results and double the service. The length of the breeding season de- 

 pends somewhat on the size of the flock and method used, ranging from 

 fifteen to sixty days. The number of ewes that fail to breed is generally 

 quite small, except in cases of bad condition of the animal or careless 

 management. The per cent of lambs raised is now larger than formerly, 

 owing to better care and more suitable conveniences, although where 

 the flockmasters are indifferent the per cent ranges from 50 to 00. 

 More experienced and careful sheepmen generally average 00 per cent 

 or better. 



The usual time for shearing sheep in Missouri is during the month 

 of May, although a great many flocks, especially the pure-bred, are 

 shorn during April. There has been no special improvement in the 

 mode of shearing sheep. The old plan is still in vogue. The smaller 

 flocks are shorn by the owners, while for the larger flocks experienced 

 shearers are engaged at about 5 cents per fleece. Each fleece is tied 

 up singly, and either stored away in a dry place or sacked ready for 

 shipment. The majority of the sheep-owners sell the wool unwashed 

 as it comes from the back of the animal. Some few who have a very 

 small flock tub -wash the wool before selling it. Where it is possible 

 for the sheep-owner to sell his wool at home it is always done, provided 

 the price offered is at all satisfactory. The bulk of the Missouri clip, 

 however, goes to the St. Louis market, and is generally sold to travel- 

 ing representatives of St. Louis wool dealers or commission men. Quite 

 a number of clips which are uniform every year are sold to woolen-mills 

 in Missouri and Illinois. The average weight of fleeces, which ranges 

 all the way from 4 to 15 pounds, are of the various grades and breeds 

 of sheep. Perhaps a general average is from 6J to 8 pounds. The gen- 

 eral grade of wool produced ranks in the order of medium, fine, and 

 coarse. The class of wool produced generally is much sought after in 

 the markets, especially when prepared in merchantable shape and free 

 from vegetable matter and burs. A very small portion of the clip of 



