164 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



It is claimed that seeds eaten by sheep do not germinate, 

 which is more than can be said of seeds eaten by some other farm 

 stock. Sheep are particularly fond of buckhorn and plantain 

 when in seed. 



In clearing up stubble fields, nothing just equals a small flock 

 of sheep. In some instances sheep would be profitable even if they 

 gave no return other than their work of clearing up the weeds 

 and fertilizing the farm. 



The idea of sheep killing our pastures is a fallacy, for the 

 densest pastures in the world are found in England, where the 

 land is more thickly populated with sheep than any other country 

 in the world, and, further, the idea that sheep will not thrive with 

 other stock is untrue where the small flock is considered, at least. 



Never, perhaps, was there a more desirable time for intro- 

 ducing small flocks of sheep to the farm than now 7 . Where there 

 is one flock kept there should be ten. Contrary to general opinion, 

 there need be no special provision made for taking care of a few 

 head of sheep on the average farm, as they are well able to take 

 care of themselves if they have access to shelter and water. Of 

 course, where large flocks are considered, they must have care, 

 and the larger the flock, the more care must be used. 



PROFITS. 



The sheep business like other enterprises is subject to fluctua- 

 tions, but it is exceedingly severe times when a small flock of sheep 

 will not pay its way, since it gives two harvests, viz., lambs and 

 wool, not to mention the benefits it bequeaths to the land in the 

 shape of fertilizer and its value as a weed destroyer. A feeder re- 

 cently remarked to the writer: "There is plenty of money in $6 

 lambs when feed is the same price." Sheep consume less per 

 hundred pounds of live weight than any other animal and at 

 present are realizing considerable more per hundred pounds. Sheep 

 and lambs may go down very considerably and yet leave a margin 

 of profit to the breeder and feeder. A well-known breeder recently 

 remarked : "I can put an equal number of pounds of sheep on the 

 same pasture that a cow can be kept, and the sheep will have made 

 the most money at the end of six months, nine months, or one 

 year." 



One good thing about the sheep business is that one can start 

 a small flock with very little capital and learn the business as he 

 "feels his way." If he wants to go away on Sundays he can 

 do so as the milking hour does not come around in the sheep busi- 

 ness, although at certain seasons of the year, the lambing season 

 for instance, the shepherd must be continually on hand to ensure 

 success. The profits from the flock, of course, depend largely upon 

 management. 



