SHEEP RAISING. i 



Adaptation of Breeds. 



Naturally sheep are at home on high, dry and well drained lands. 

 While the traits and characteristics of most breeds differ somewhat, 

 and in some cases quite widely, it may be safely said that as long as 

 sheep are kept on high and dry land, clean and well nourished, there is 

 little likelihood of trouble. As an example of the peculiar traits of dif- 

 ferent breeds the Shropshire might be mentioned as a breed which is 

 peculiarly adapted to the conditions existing on farms where natural 

 pastures abound. The Black Faced Highland sheep are entirely differ- 

 ent, choosing for their home some of the steepest cliffs on the mountain 

 sides where a livelihood would seem well-nigh impossible. The Cheviot, 

 while adapted to mountain conditions, does not choose the steepest and 

 most rugged mountain sides like the Black Faced Highlands, but rather 

 a more moderate condition of hills and cliffs. The Tunis on the other 

 hand is well adapted to the lower and more level lands and to a warm 

 climate, such as exists near the deserts of Africa, the native home of 

 this breed. They can withstand more in this respect possibly than any 

 other breed although like most other breeds they will thrive better 

 under more favorable conditions of soil and climate. 



Many other breeds might be mentioned, each having their own pe- 

 culiar traits and characteristics. Sheep do not like wet feet, or foul 

 places for feeding and sheltering. Such conditions are sure to bring on 

 trouble and discouragement. Whatever the breed selected the animals 

 should be given the high and well-drained places rather tlian the lower 

 undrained fields. Under the latter condition troubles are likely to mul- 

 tiply either from intestinal worms, from diseases of the feet, or from 

 constitutional ailments. 



Sheep being ruminating animals can subsist largely on the coarser 

 roughage feeds of the farm. They are great weed destroyers, often 

 gaining a large part of their livelihood thereby, but they can not be 

 grown to the best advantage without the addition of some concentrates 

 during the winter or when on poor pasturage. 



Sheep as Soil Improvers. 



It is universally accepted that sheep droppings under like conditions 

 contain a larger amount of fertility than that from either the horse, 

 cow, or hog. One of the desirable features of this product is the uni- 

 form distribution made by the sheep over the land. In the leading 

 European countries, such as England, Scotland, France, and Germany, 

 the value of sheep in improving impoverished or naturally thin soils 

 has been recognized for centuries. It is stated on good authority that 

 many of the soils would be almost worthless but for the fact that they 

 are densely covered with sheep. In these countries flocks of sheep ag- 

 gregating two or three thousand in number are not uncommonly seen. 

 The various breeds which naturally inhabit the rough mountain lands, 

 and the precipitous cliffs of these countries, where only scanty and 

 coarse herbage exists, manifest their great value in making otherwise 

 worthless land bring in profitable returns. 



Much of the gullied land and waste hillsides of this State could be 

 utilized profitably in the production of sheep. Prominent farmers in 

 the State have proved this to their highest satisfaction. Much of the 



