6o MAINE AGRICUI.TURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. igiS- 



BecauSfC of these facts the Council authorized the purchase 

 of ordinary grade sheep sufficient to make the foundation for 

 stocking Highmoor Farm, not for the purpose of a definite 

 scientific experiment but to study the question as to whether 

 sheep can or cannot be profitably raised in Maine. For this 

 reason the sheep carried upon the farm are not of fancy type. 

 They are not pure bred and, therefore, none of the animals can 

 be sold at a fancy price. They are just plain sheep such as any 

 ordinary farmer can carry. While care is exercised in handling 

 the sheep no high priced labor is used. No special "shepherd" 

 is employed. 



As this experiment is not of sufficient scientific character to 

 warrant its being carried out by any funds which are available 

 to the Experiment Station for work of investigation it is neces- 

 sary to keep distinct, separate accounts for every item of ex- 

 pense and of receipts. Consequently from the treasurer's books 

 it will be possible at any moment to know whether the sheep 

 are or are not paying. 



The experiment was begun by placing upon the farm earl}? 

 in the summer of 1914 a flock of 75 grade Hampshire sheep 

 with their lambs. The sheep were bred in the fall of 1914 to 

 pure Hampshire sires. The whole matter is more of a demon- 

 stration experiment than of investigation, and is and will be 

 handled chiefly with the purpose of ascertaining whether or not 

 hay and pasturage can be profitably marketed through sheep. 

 The further question as to how far sheep may be relied upon to 

 maintain fertility upon Maine farms will be considered. 



Only ordinary animals with ordinary care under ordinary 

 conditions are being used. If this venture proves to be a profit- 

 able one it will be such that any man in the State can imitate if 

 he wishes to do so. If, barring accidents, this venture does not 

 prove to be a financial success it is doubtful if the Maine farmer 

 would be justified in carrying ordinary sheep for ordinary 

 market purposes upon his farm. 



The two chief initial items of expense are for the sheep 

 themselves and for the fencing of the pastures. Because of 

 the irregular shape of the pastures at Highmoor Farm in order 

 to enclose and properly divide the 100 acres, it was necessary 

 to build nearly two miles of fence. As there are few sheep 

 kept in the vicinity of Highmoor Farm, and as the laws of the 



