THE WESTERN PLAINS. 259 



tent with what would be predicated of the existing conditions by 

 an expert in sheep culture. 



But little feed is necessary for the winter season, one ton of 

 hay for every 50 head being the usual allowance. When the 

 winter is favorable, only a few days' feeding may be needed, and 

 in the southern portion of the district, feed is never stored for the 

 winter, pasturing being the entire dependence. Still, where the 

 flock is of improved grades, it will certainly be profitable to pro- 

 vide not only hay, but a moderate quantity of crushed grain (oats 

 and corn), for the ewes. 



The profit actually made upon investments in sheep, when prop- 

 erly managed, are here from 50 to 75 per cent per annum. When, 

 labor is all hired, the wool will generally pay all expenses, leaving 

 the increase of the flock, which is rarely less than 75 lambs to every 

 100 ewes, as clear profit. A common method is to let out the 

 flock to a capable shepherd for one half the net increase and pro- 

 duce ; the losses in the original flock being made up from the 

 share of the shepherd. 



A personal inspection of these magnificent pastures, and a short 

 acquaintance with some of those who are already successfully en- 

 gaged there in sheep raising, can not fail to give a most favorable 

 impression to the least sanguine seeker of information upon this 

 interesting subject. 



A large portion of this favored territory is susceptible of the 

 highest cultivation under ordinary farm crops. The various 

 grains, flax, sorghum, roots and fruits of all kinds, yield abundantly. 

 For those farmers who follow this mixed system of agriculture, 

 and yet who would add sheep-keeping to their other resources, 

 might adopt the plan of joining their flocks together after shearing 

 time, and putting the whole under the care of a shepherd who 

 should drive them to a distance and pasture them upon the unoc- 

 cupied lands, until the farms were cleared of crops. This migra- 

 tory system is very frequent amongst farmers in parts of Germany, 

 and is found very convenient. The sheep and lambs are marked, 

 so as to distinguish those of the different owners, and the expense 

 of their care during their absence is borne proportionately to the 

 number of sheep in each flock. In this way the profits of sheep- 

 keeping could be securod with great advantage, where, without it, 

 not a sheep could be kept. A number of small flocks of from 

 fifty to a hundred sheep, gathered together into one large one of 

 two or three thousand, might be kept at almost nominal expense 

 for half the year, and be returned in time to glean the stubbies 

 and consume much fodder that now goes entirely to waste, or 



