216 The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Different 

 Types of 

 Sheep for 

 Different 

 Localities 



Sheep as a 

 Fertilizing 

 Agent 



than the state of Texas, produces practically the same amount 

 of wool, on a scoured basis, as we produce here in the immense 

 territory covered by the United States. The Spanish merino 

 has thriven on the green hills of Vermont ; on the mountain 

 ranges of Wyoming ; on the pampas of the Argentine ; on the 

 veldts of Africa, and on the great plains of Australia. And the 

 English type of sheep have thriven equally as well in the same 

 regions. Given the land areas, therefore, which you have, and 

 establishing their adaptability for the maintenance of sheep, it 

 would seem quite reasonable that all that is necessary is an in- 

 telligent and scientific attention to establish in this Southern 

 territory a vast industry, which will lay the foundation for a bet- 

 ter agriculture and a diversification of agricultural production, 

 which would be of such great advantage to the Southland. 



I have touched upon sheep husbandry mainly in connection 

 with its meat and wool product, but there is another considera- 

 tion, which I wish to emphasize, and that is, that the sheep is 

 known to be one of the best fertilizing agents of any kind of 

 live stock. This has long been generall}^ recognized by shep- 

 herds, and their appreciation of this fact has been shown b}^ their 

 use of the term "The Golden Hoof," as applying to this feature 

 of sheep husbandry in its relation to the fertility of the soil. 



I have presented to you this matter of the sheep industry en- 

 tirely from the commercial standpoint. I am going to take the 

 liberty to suggest to you that under the circumstances this mat- 

 ter is worthy of your consideration from another point of view 

 than pure commercialism. 



No one is justified in allowing that which may be made pro- 

 ductive to stand idle. It seems to me there is a moral obligation 

 that rests upon people like yourselves, who control great quan- 

 tities of lands, to make those lands productive for the national 

 needs. Your opportunities in all things are created for you by 

 the activities of the millions of people in these United States. 

 There is a mutual interdependence, at times intangible but always 

 real, between each individual and each community in the nation. 

 Today and in the future the cry of these other millions comes to 

 vou, to use your land to supply their needs. 



