PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



It is with a gratifying sense of the favor with which the two 

 previous editions of this work have been received, that the au- 

 thor submits to the public a third edition of " The Shepherd's 

 Manual." The work is now in the hands of several thousands 

 of persons engaged in sheep rearing, and the production of 

 wool, both in America and foreign countries, and many com- 

 plimentary acknowledgements of benefits received have been 

 sent to the author by readers of this little book. The author 

 would rather believe that these are due to the kindness and 

 sympathy of readers who are engaged with him in a kindred 

 pursuit, and the care and thoroughness with which the work 

 has been prepared, than from any other special merit in it. It 

 is pleasant, however, to the author, who prepared his work 

 chiefly from a love for the gentle, useful animal, to know that 

 it is received, as was recently stated by a practical writer in a 

 leading agricultural journal, as " the highest authority in the 

 United States," and that this favorable opinion of it was en- 

 dorsed by a well known western breeder of sheep. Certainly 

 after eight years' later experience, the author has found no ne- 

 cessity for changing any views at first expressed, nor has he 

 found any material addition to the matter requisite, excepting 

 so far as regards the development of the sheep and wool indus- 

 try in the more recently settled territory that has been opened 

 to the enterprise of the Shepherd. 



The remarkable increase in this industry during the past 

 twenty years, and especially in the few years since the first edi- 

 tion of this work appeared, now eight years ago, should not be 

 passed over without notice here. The following figures exhibit 

 this growth in a conspicuous manner. 



No. of SJieep Produced in Lbs. of Wool 



the United States. Produced. 



In 1860, 22,471,275 60,264,913. 



1870, 28,477,951 100,102,387. 



1880, 35,192,074 355,681,751. 



1884 (estimated), 45,000,000 250,000,000. 



This increase has been a healthy and permament one, and has 

 not been stimulated by any speculative excitement at all. It is 



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