260 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



future of the industry. Valuation of the sheep of 

 the State for 1920 was reduced about 10 per cent 

 from that of 1919, although the numbers increased 

 about 20 per cent. Decrease in value continued as 

 war conditions faded away. It is reasonable to con- 

 clude that the future of wool production as a special 

 industry will largely depend on the popular attitude 

 toward wool-growing with sheep kept as a factor in 

 mixed farming or toward sheep-farming instead of 

 ranging, on lands not desirable for other purposes, 

 or toward types of wool to be had from sheep grown 

 chiefly for lamb and mutton. There are great oppor- 

 tunities for better sheep husbanded in better ways 

 and in the breeding of pure-breds both for local use 

 and sale and for the export trade with other states 

 and countries. California conditions make for early 

 maturity and exceptionally fine development. It is 

 likely that sheep-breeding enterprises will draw quali- 

 fied breeders to effort and investment in this State 

 for pursuit of their high class production, even more 

 abundantly in the future than in the past. The 

 future of the sheep industry of California in all its 

 branches depends on the terms on which competition 

 with imported wools must be undertaken. 



SWINE 



Of all domestic animals the hog has most success- 

 fully eluded the commendable efforts to catch and 

 tie it to an approximate sufficiency of production to 

 supply local consumption. This has not been due 



