892 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



they mostly enjoy good health until they die of old age or are disposed 

 of as mutton to the local butchers, or made food of by the dogs and wild 

 animals. The latter are becoming extinct, but the dogs are on the in- 

 crease. There is some occasional complaint, especially in the lowlands, 

 from foot-rot, grub in the head, or tubercle of the intestines ; however, 

 where sheep receive proper attention such affections are rare. 



The sheep industry is neither declining nor advancing; it is in about 

 the same condition that it was at the close of the war. It is the belief 

 of the best informed sheep-raisers that the industry has a bright future, 

 as the natural advantages and conditions are exceptionally favorable. 

 But before it advances materially methods now in vogue must be greatly 

 improved and sheep-raising made something more than a side issue. 

 Whenever flockmasters have a sufficient number to require a herder 

 sheep-raising is quite profitable. 



The most successful methods for profitably conducting the business 

 is to use nothing but pure-bred rams, such as the Merino or Shropshire, 

 and, where it is practical, to inclose a large tract of the hilly land, which 

 is quite cheap, and to seed a portion of the cultivated land to tame 

 grasses or forage crops, especially Bermuda grass. This Bermuda grass 

 furnishes an unusual amount of green pasturage from April 1 to Decem- 

 ber 15. There is 110 question as to the profitableness of raising sheep, 

 provided they have attention, and no other pursuit will pay so well for 

 the money invested or the attention given. During winter provide 

 feed, such as sorghum or the cowpea, which is easily produced here in 

 large quantities. It may be planted after oats and wheat have been 

 harvested and a bountiful crop secured. Cotton seed, which is abundant 

 and very cheap, makes an excellent winter feed. Two or three cuttings 

 of red clover can be secured, yielding from 2 to 5 tons per acre; 

 millet also yields a large tonnage per acre. Another plant which 

 furnishes more green or dried forage than anything else produced is the 

 teosinte (Uclousena luxuriens). The seed, however, will not mature. 

 Cotton seed can be bought for about $8 per ton. All kinds of grain 

 and grasses and root crops can be produced so abundantly and cheaply 

 that it seems a great extravagance to have this large amount of excel- 

 lent stock feed go to waste, as much of it does every year. Consequently, 

 sheep-raising should be encouraged and so managed as to utilize these 

 products. And if the sheep-owners can not secure legislative enact- 

 ments to protect them from the ravages of the dogs, they should try 

 the merits of strychnine and shotguns, and in no wise stint the use of 

 them. Briefly, the best methods are, to increase the number and im- 

 prove the quality of the stock and give them proper care and attention, 

 and prepare the wool for the market in good merchantable shape. If 

 this were generally done by the sheepmen of the State, it would not be 

 long until Arkansas would become especially noted for rhe superiority 

 of both its wool and mutton products, as well as famous for the profit- 

 ableness of the industry. 



