24 FARMERS' BULLETIN 929. 



in supplementing the regular pastures. As prevention of infection 

 is the most p'ractical means of handling this trouble, it is important 

 that the breeder inform himself of the method outlined in Farmers' 

 Bulletin 840 in order to be better enabled to cope with it. 



A few growers, who already have regular pastures so located as to 

 permit shifting, recognize the advantages of changing pasture and 

 make a practice of changing their flocks from one pasture to another, 

 and sometimes to a third, during the same season, and though in most 

 cases they can give no good reason for their success, they claim to get 

 better results by so doing. Since the length of time on each pasture 

 is much greater than two weeks (the maximum time a pasture can be 

 occupied and insure safety from infection), it is likely that the ad- 

 vantage gained in this respect is due to the better feed afforded rather 

 than to the prevention of worms, yet the practice is a good one and 

 should be more generally followed. 



The appearance of some flocks brought under the writer's ob- 

 servation, and their histories as told by the owners, lead to the con- 

 clusion that most of the so-called running out not due to disease 

 can be attributed to poor care and to degeneration as a result of 

 long-continued inbreeding. Inbreeding to any great extent should 

 be avoided and new blood introduced occasionally in order to main- 

 tain vigor and vitality. 



The disease factor is one which can hardly be overemphasized. 

 It appears to be one of the most important factors, probably much 

 more so at present than the dog question, in the development and 

 profitableness of the sheep industry of New England. 



THE DOG QUESTION. 



What has many times been set forth as one of the greatest ob- 

 stacles to sheep raising in Xew England is the dog. Loss from 

 canine depredation is considerable, and it is sometimes claimed that 

 the dog 1 was responsible for the decline in sheep raising in the 

 eastern portions of the country. From the figures heretofore given, 

 showing the profits under former prices, together with investigation 

 in respect to this particular question, it would appear that other 

 factors, particularly disease, low prices, and the development of 

 cheaper grazing lands in the West, were each quite as potent as the 

 dog in this regard. 



It must not be inferred from this that the dog question is to bo 

 ignored. It is still a serious one, and one that calls for further 

 remedial legislation, in some States at least. There is, however, a 

 marked improvement in public sentiment and good prospect that 

 sheep growers will get additional protection in this regard. 



1 Tho question of th- sheep-killing <lojj is fully discussed in Farmers' Bulletin 935, 

 which is obtainable from the Department of Agriculture upon request. 



