260 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



serves as a harbor for countless myriads of insect pests. The 

 opportunities for such arrangements as this, now, and for 

 many years to come, are very many, not only through the district 

 referred to, but in many others far east of this. 



THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. 



This divsion comprises the Territories of Wyoming, Utah, 

 Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern and Westen Colorado. The 

 surface consists of broad, dry plains, covered with buffalo grass 

 " sage bush " (Artemesia), or elevated vallies with broad grassy 

 meadows alternating with elevated mountain ranges. The climate 

 is dry, and in parts arid, and the sparseness or entire absence of 

 population renders it far from desirable as a residence, except to 

 adventurous people who may be content to sacrifice the comforts 

 of civilization for a time in the pursuit of wealth. Only the pos- 

 sessor of considerable capital can have any hope of success in 

 pastoral pursuits here. But with sufficient means, and the requisite 

 experience, sheep-keeping can be made very profitable. The chief 

 drawback is the hostility of the cattle-men, who complain, with 

 some justice, that sheep injure the range as a pasture for their 

 herds, and these, being the stronger, drive the sheep and the shep- 

 herds from the best grazing grounds. 



THE PACIFIC DISTRICT. 



The Pacific District includes the States of California and Oregon 

 and Washington Territory. The physical features of a large por- 

 tion of this extensive district are similiar to those of the locality 

 last described. There are broad plains, covered with low brush 

 and bunch grasses, rolling grassy uplands, mountains and elevated 

 vallies, all furnishing abundant pasturage. There aro 85,000,000 

 acres in Eastern Oregon, which is for the greater part covered 

 with the bunch grasses (prominent among which is Festuc;i sci- 

 brella), and other herbage which are nutritious and healthful for 

 sheep. The climate gives a softness and fineness to the fleece, 

 which adapts it to the production of fabrics of excellent quality; 

 the blankets made in Oregon being probably the best produced 

 anywhere. 



Washington Territory possesses a similar climate and other char- 

 acteristics, and offers equal advantages to the shepherd, though it 

 lacks a home market, because of the sparseness of the population. 



It is in California, however, that the industry and enterprise of 

 the shepherd have been developed to a greater extent than else- 



