WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 887 



of the sheep of Arkansas at $1.47, the lowest average value of any State 

 in the Union, as shown in his report of the numbers and values of 

 farm animals for January,, 1891. During the year that the dog law 

 was in force the revenues received from the whole State were $84,906. 

 Seven counties in the State paid no dog tax whatever, and it is a noto- 

 rious fact that the majority of the dogs of the State were not listed for 

 taxation, and doubtless were not worth the dollar to the owner. 



Yet, notwithstanding these adverse circumstances which have 

 beset the industry for the last thirty years, it is safe to assume that 

 unless the industry meets with some serious drawback not now an- 

 ticipated the number of sheep will increase. From the best infor- 

 mation obtainable, there seems to be a breaking up of old methods, 

 and newcomers from other States are now taking advantage of the 

 cheap lands of the State, and are paying more attention to stock- 

 raising than to cotton-growiog. A State having so much cheap land 

 and so prolific in its production of all kinds of feed can not long be 

 overlooked by settlers, in view of the fact that the stock ranges far- 

 ther west are fairly well occupied. There seems to be no good reason 

 why the general farmer on the alluvial farms should not keep a lim- 

 ited number of medium-wool sheep in connection with other live stock. 

 They would add to the profits of his work and at the same time im- 

 prove his land. On the uplands and in the hilly and mountainous re- 

 gions of the State stock-raising as an exclusive pursuit would pay 

 well and could be conducted on a much larger scale. These stockmen 

 would enjoy the advantage of mild and short winters, and during the 

 winter season, when necessary to feed grain, would be able to secure 

 it at very little cost, in case they did not produce it themselves. They 

 would also have a great variety of grains, grasses, and forage plants, 

 corn, wheat, oats, barley, cotton, and flax being grown quite success- 

 fully. There are thirteen cotton-seed mills in the State, and in feeding 

 value the cotton-seed meal is unsurpassed by any other stock food, 

 considering its nutritive value and cost. Even the cotton-seed hulls 

 are considered equal to prairie hay, and can be purchased at $2 per 

 ton, and the meal at $16 per ton. In many portions of the State stock 

 can be run in the open commons for nine months free of cost to the 

 owner. 



Experiments have demonstrated that both the soil and climate of 

 Arkansas are well adapted to the growth of grasses. The rainfall is 

 sufficient for them to attain a high state of development; the native 

 grass grows everywhere in abundance, and the tame varieties are so 

 easily grown, that the progressive stockmen could well afford to avail 

 themselves of them. Timothy, blue grass, redtop, orchard grass, Ber- 

 muda, red and Japan clover, and alfalfa all do well; and, in addition, 

 siich crops as millet, sorghum, and cowpea can be grown on the land 

 after many of the regular farm crops are harvested. 



