WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 9G1 



pasture is a long, roomy hay barn, so constructed by recesses into the 

 inside of the bays containing the hay as to increase the feeding room. 

 The sheep are allowed access to the hay by thrusting their heads 

 through racks made wide enough for the purpose. The shed room is 

 sufficient to allow all the sheep in that particular pasture to find shelter 

 in inclement weather. They are left ample space to pass out or in under 

 the sills of the building, which are about 2 feet from the ground at each 

 end and along one side, so that the sheep need not suffer by being 

 crowded too closely nor by piling in fright. With a view to keeping 

 out dogs and coyotes the field is fenced with split redwood pickets 5 

 feet long, 1J inches thick, and 3 to 4 inches wide, driven into the ground 

 at the lower end about 2 inches apart, spaced the same distance apart 

 at top and woven into strands of wire by the machine made for the 

 purpose. At intervals of 10 feet a post is set securely, standing 5 feet 

 out of the ground, and to these posts the wires sustaining the pickets 

 are secured by staples. A barbed wire is stretched 8 inches above the 

 top of the pickets to make it dog proof, and another is stretched 2 feet 

 from the ground to make it bull proof. Either a dog or coyote getting 

 into the field has an experience which deters future attempts. They 

 are generally found seeking an easy way to get out. Two greyhounds 

 are kept for the purpose of finishing them when necessary. The catch 

 on this farm during the year 1891 was eighteen dogs and ten coyotes, 

 and eight eagles were shot. The necessity for and the value of these 

 arrangements to catch and kill the enemies of the sheepfold will be 

 understood from the statement that the estate is devoted to the breed- 

 ing of Eed Polled cattle, polled Merino and Shropshire sheep. Fifty 

 ewes of the latter breed had recently been added to the flock by impor- 

 tation at a cost of 850 per head, when the writer was there, in January, 

 1892. The importer is ready at all times to give $10 for killing a coyote 

 on his land. 



A born pioneer (and, like J. B. Hoyt, of Suisun, Jothan Bixby, of 

 Eiverside, and Samuel Baechtel, a believer in Shropshire- Merino cross), 

 Mr. Meachem is leading the way to meet the pressing demand for 

 mutton and more lambs as indicated by the quotations in the market 

 reports of their principal city, San Francisco. At this date (March 19, 

 1892) stall-fed beef (dressed carcass) is quoted at 7 cents and mutton 

 at 10 and 11 cents per pound. The coast counties of California, north 

 of San Francisco, constitute the portion of the State best fitted by na- 

 ture for the successful crossing of the Merino with the British breeds. 

 It is in this district of the State where the greatest amount of such 

 crossing has been done with the most encouraging results, and conse- 

 quently where the call for sheep of the Southdown and Shropshire 

 breeds is most pressing. The demand for them is seemingly much 

 greater than for Leicester s, Cots wolds, or any of the long- wooled breeds. 

 All over northwestern California complaint is made of the ravages of 

 the coyote (or small wolf), the wildcat and the eagle ranking next. The 

 22990 61 



