CROP REGIONS OF OHIO OB 



soil and physiographic conditions. There is, in contrast with this, 

 a climatic center of sheep production in the semi-arid districts of 

 the West which extend from Arizona northward to Montana. 



The grouping of the statistical data as published by the Board 

 of Agriculture does not show the relation of the production of 

 sheep to the Ohio-Pennsylvania edaphic center. For our present 

 purpose this data is slightly differently arranged. The production 

 of Jefferson, Harrison, Knox, Tuscarawas, and Coshocton counties, 

 although listed with the northeastern production, is credited to the 

 southeastern part of the state. These counties are the border 

 counties between the northeastern and southeastern sections, so 

 that the statistics cannot really be considered distorted by this 

 transfer. The state and section totals as recorded are : 



Northeastern section 462,354 



Northwestern " 400,407 



Southeastern " 397,262 



Southwestern " 131,576 



Total 1,391,599 



The totals from counties above named are in round numbers 

 250,000. When this is added to the southeastern section it gives to 

 this section about 650,000 or forty-six percent, to be exact. This 

 leaves 150,000 to the northeastern section and it is transferred 

 from the first to third place in rank. The correctness of this 

 transfer can be seen from the figure showing the distribution of 

 sheep in Ohio and Pennsylvania (Fig. 12). 



Sheep can be kept on pasture less continuously productive of 

 the best forage than is required for dairy cattle. Southeastern 

 Ohio is for this reason admirably adapted to sheep raising. Also 

 since the rough topography makes a permanent plant cover better 

 for the light easily eroded soil than cultivated crops, sheep raising 

 should be encouraged for this section of the state. It is a part of 

 the system to winter the sheep in sheds and to feed them grain. The 

 bottom lands of southwestern Ohio can produce sufficient grain to 

 feed the sheep and other livestock and leave some for local human 

 consumption. Feeding the sheep in winter makes the dual purpose 

 sheep, that is, those which produce both wool and mutton, the most 

 economical. There is no fundamental reason why a local demand 

 for mutton could not be developed in this country as has been done 

 in England. 



