882 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



That large flocks, ranged, will be divided into smaller flocks and inclosed in pastures. 

 Every farmer could keep a few sheep profitably and to advantage. 



E. L. Gilbert, Chester, Jefferson County : 



Sixteen years ago I began with 7 very scrawny looking sheep and bred to a 

 thoroughbred Cotswold buck, and obtained some good grades. Then I purchased 6 

 imported Canada Cotswolds and in less than two years all died but the buck, who 

 did me good service; but the importation gave my flock the scab, which took me 

 two years to eradicate. Six years ago I gave up using Cotswold bucks, and have 

 used Shropshires ever since, and am firmly convinced that it is the sheep for early 

 maturity. 



William H. Peters, Boston Mills, Cherokee County: 



I have found sheep very profitable, not only for mutton and wool, but to improve 

 the farm and kill out weeds. I wintered 180 head the past winter on roughness, and 

 they ran out in the pasture, and I only lost 2; all the others are in good condition. 

 Ordinarily sheep can be run the year round on pastures here. There is a good de- 

 mand for breeding ewes among farmers. 



John Cresy, Aliceville, Coffey County: 



While I have made a success of the sheep business I have reduced the size of my 

 flock from 1,200 to about 125 head, not because I was not satisfied with them, but 

 because we have so much other stock. My boys would rather handle cattle, because 

 of the close attention the sheep require during lambing season. The future for sheep 

 in this State is good, but small flocks will pay better than large ones. 



Eli Sherman, Webster, Eooks County: 



I began handling sheep in Kansas in 1875, and made a success of it until 1883, since 

 which time my expenses have been about the same as my receipts. I have made the 

 sheep business a specialty, and staid by it while most of my neighbors broke up and 

 went out of the business. If our farmers would grow grain, keep a few cattle and 

 hogs, and handle sheep for mutton, I think they would win. 



Frank E. Lusk, Eago, Kingman County : 



Have been in the sheep business ten years, and during part of the time have had 

 a good many cattle and hogs, yet I find sheep much the best paying stock, and believe 

 that noWj since the successful raising of alfalfa, sheep fed on it will be still more 

 profitable. Want of fencing material is the main reason why so few sheep are kept 

 by small farmers. 



William H. Fitzhugh, Wellington, Sumner County: 



I bought 17 head of sheep in the fall of 1880 for $100, and as they were free from 

 scab when I bought them I have never dipped them, and only bought an occasional 

 ram. I have never had disease on niy place. My receipts from wool and mutton 

 have averaged over $200 a year. I have now a flock of 106. In 1888 1 sold over $500 

 worth of mutton, and in 1889 about the same, which would make my returns in eleven 

 years at least $3,500. My ewes nearly always have dropped two lambs, so I have 

 always raised more lambs than I had ewes; but as the lambs are dropped in winter 

 I usually lose 25 per cent. 



J. E. Brown, Kingman, Kingman County: 



I started in 1882 with 300 Mexican ewes on shares, and gave half the wool and half 

 the increase for the privilege. The first year I lost 150 lambs, because they came 

 about March 20. I now have them dropped late in May with good results. For 

 the last three years my wool has sold for about $800 per year, and I sell about $500 

 worth of mutton a year. 



