926 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



more permanent basis. A disadvantage in some counties is the late 

 date at which grass starts in the spring. So many lambs come before 

 the new grass is well started that the ewes do not nourish them well, 

 because of short supply of milk. And in the northern .portions of the 

 Territory occasional snowstorms occur during the lambing season. 

 Still worse difficulties are the long dry seasons and scarcity of natural 

 Avater supply accessible on so much of the grazing lands; for, owing to 

 the unfavorable land laws of the Territory, the sheep-owners do not feel 

 like incurring the expense of making reservoirs or putting down wells. 

 The chief drawbacks to the industry are the poor quality of the sheep 

 and the primitive methods of conducting the industry. Especially is 

 the slow progress of improvement due largely to the old custom of hav- 

 ing sheep kept on shares, as neither the owner nor renter will incur 

 the expense of improving the flocks. The owner frequently runs the 

 flocks as a side issue to some other business, and while he realizes 20 

 per cent as a yearly income on the sheep investment he is content with 

 the old system. 



The present outlook for the industry of New Mexico is unusually 

 bright. Buyers are numerous, looking for stock sheep as well as mut- 

 tons for feeders. The supply of fresh grass and water is now abundant 

 and the protracted dry period of 188S-'89 and 1890 is at an end. The 

 recurrence of another such extended dry spell is not soon anticipated, 

 and should it occur again sheep-owners feel that much of the irrigable 

 land which is rapidly being developed will produce such heavy crops of 

 alfalfa that the feed problem will be solved. The extensive areas of alfalfa 

 and their increase every year will be of great benefit to wool-growers, 

 enabling them to select the old and inferior ewes and feed them for the 

 market, thus withdrawing from their flock all undesirable ewes and 

 only breeding the best. 



It has been demonstrated by the experience of practical flockmasters 

 that the best methods for profitably conducting sheep husbandry in 

 the Territory is for the owner to have personal supervision of his flocks, 

 or if the management of the flocks must be left to hired help, to be sure 

 that they are capable, honest, and faithful. It will not do to intrust 

 the flocks with herders who are employed because they can he hired 

 cheaply. The sheep should be kept free from scab, run in medium- sized 

 flocks, and pastured on good fresh grass, and in nowise should the reg- 

 ular supply of salt or water be stinted. Elockmasters have been very 

 neglectful in the matter of a regular and adequate supply of water and 

 salt for the sheep. This must be avoided or profits sacrificed in pro- 

 portion to the amount of neglect. 



When it is at all practicable, every sheep-owner should have a per- 

 manent ranch, where feed and shelter are provided, when such require- 

 ments are necessary. He should manage to have green feed for sheep 

 during the lambing season. When the range is short of water and it 

 is necessary to pasture such lands, as is frequently the case, the sheep- 



