870 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



H. B. Scott, Sedalia, Pettis County: 



My experience in sheep husbandry for the past few years has been very satisfactory 

 and profitable, although I have only kept a small flock of thoroughbred Shropshires 

 for breeders. If prices are not disturbed by legislation the industry in this State 

 will become more popular. 



J. J. Brigal, Harden, Callaway County: 



Have had eight years' experience in sheep husbandry. The future is quite flatter- 

 ing in view of the fact that we expect never again to see our sheep go as low in price 

 as heretofore, and we shall endeavor by care and attention to make this the foremost 

 business of our great State. Our farms are renewed, and much of the old land would 

 become worthless without the sheep's foot, which is gold to the soil. 



J. B. Murehany, Dardenne, St. Charles County: 



Sheep-raising is a success from beginning to end. A few head on the farm will 

 always pay 100 per cent. I have just shipped a lot of yearling lambs that weighed 

 120 pounds in St. Louis, and brought $6 per head. The lambs never saw any grain 

 except what they got iu the stubble field. They were wintered on clover hay. A 

 neighbor of mine raised 64 lambs from 45 Shropshire ewes, the best record I ever 

 knew. 



Thomas McNallie, Sarcoxie, Jasper County: 



Have had sixteen years' experience in this county. I started with less than 20 

 head, taking them on shares, and at end of the year bought the flock, and as there 

 was unlimited range near I kept buying until in three years I had 400 head. My 

 first mistake was in selling a car of the fattest each year after shearing, and breeding 

 the ewes without weeding out the aged and inferior. Another mistake was in breed- 

 ing my ewes to a Leicester ram instead of using a Merino or Down ram. 



W. B. Cox, Oto, Stone County: 



I have been familiar with sheep -raising for forty years, and since 1870 have kept 

 from 100 to 300 sheep here, but four years ago reduced my flock to 60 head. I now 

 keep a better grade of sheep, and pasture them most of the time. Sheep, like other 

 stock, require plenty of feed and good care, in order to be profitable. This county 

 is well adapted to the business. 



William Cully, Cherry Box, Shelby County: 



I find the best results from breeding from aged bucks, as the lambs are stronger 

 and make larger sheep. Bucks should never be in a flock more than two seasons. 

 In this county sheep-raising is on the increase, and more attention is being paid to 

 raising improved breeds. 



H. M. Vaile, Independence, Jackson County: 



My experience with sheep has been pleasant, except for dogs. Some years ago I 

 imported some superior Lincoln sheep and used them on grade Merinos. The cross 

 has made a superior mutton and at the same time a wool sheep, bearing the highest 

 price fleece. In body they are sound, low and strong, the wool long, even, glossy, 

 and fine; both body and legs well wooled. I regard this cross superior to all others. 



KANSAS. 



Kansas has now a population of 1,500,000 and an area of 80,891 

 square miles, or 51,770,240 acres, with hardly a single acre that can not 

 be utilized either for grazing or farming. There is no land, except that 



