WKST OF THE ^MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 877 



at from 3 to "> cents per pound. The car lots go mainly to Kansas City 

 markets, and occasionally to Chicago or St. Louis. They are sold 

 either off the grass during summer, or, if grain is fed, during the winter. 

 There is always good demand at fair prices for fat sheep, and there is 

 no class of stock from which the farmer realizes better prices and more 

 money, for the feed consumed. The average gross weight of fat sheep 

 ranges from 90 to 115 pounds for Merinos, and for the grades and 

 crosses of other breeds from 100 to 150 pounds. 



The cost of keeping per sheep a year is variously estimated at from 50 

 cents to $1.50. In western counties, where land is cheaper and fences not 

 much used, the annual cost per sheep is placed at 50 cents to 75 cents, 

 while in central and eastern Kansas the cost is put from 81 to 1.50, 

 depending, 01 course, on amount and kind of feed. The majority state 

 that 81 will cover all cost, including grain feed. Some farmers who 

 keep a few head say that there is none to their credit than the cost of 

 keep. Besides the cost of pasturage, it is estimated that 2 bushels 

 of corn and hay will cover all feed expenses. Those who raise mutton 

 sheep say that the fleece will pay all the expenses of a year. 



The local disadvantages encountered in sheep husbandry in the dif- 

 ferent sections of Kansas, as enumerated by the owners, are as follows: 

 Inability to sell wool at home for cash; lack of competent persons to 

 care for large flocks ; too great expense to guard small flocks from 

 wolves and dogs; general hostility of too many farmers against sheep; 

 poor winter pastures in western Kansas after heavy fall rains, and too 

 short a season of green grass; scarcity of cheap range for large flocks; 

 lack of tame-grass pastures generally; necessity for keeping in repair 

 the neighbors' line fences to protect against cockle-burs; the cold rains 

 which frequently come after shearing; the hot sun of July and August 

 on the prairie pastures and lack of shade; light soil and high winds; 

 lack of a wolf-bounty law and the increase of wolves; the high price of 

 lumber and wire for fencing, and dogs. 



It should be remembered that this aggregation of disadvantages is 

 by no means general; in fact, skillful management on the part of the 

 flockmaster and cooperation and organization of sheep-owners would 

 easily overcome most of them. Give sheep good care, plenty of feed 

 and suitable shelter, and they can be raised successfully and profitably 

 in every county in Kansas. 



Among the advantages for sheep-raising in Kansas are the high and 

 gentle rolling lands, which are sufficiently fertile to produce vegetation 

 in the greatest abundance. There is hardly a foot of land in the State 

 that can not be utilized in sheep husbandry. A great variety of 

 cheap feed is easily produced in every section of the State. Stock 

 water is plentiful and pure. The climate is dry and healthful and 

 especially adapted to raising sheep. Disease is practically unknown; 

 the native grasses are abundant and nutritious, and tame grasses 

 readily replace the wild in the farming districts of the State. No other 



