INTRObUCTION. 15 



saw about 39,204,000 sheep shorn; April, 1904, 

 about .38,342,000, or nearly a million less. It is 

 probable that this decrease has been checked, 

 though there has been no decided change in 

 conditions and comparatively little re-stocking 

 of Eastern farms. Sheep are essentially today 

 dwellers of the range, the mountain and the 

 desert. Montana has the largest nmnber of 

 sheep, 5,576,000; Wyoming has 3,800,000; New 

 Mexico, 3,150,000; Idaho, 2,300,000; Ohio, 2,033,- 

 000; Utah, 2,025,000; Oregon, 2,000,000; Cali- 

 fornia, 1,625,000] Texas, 1,440,000; Colorado, 

 1,300,000; Michigan, 1,200,000; Pennsylvania, 

 850,000; New York, 675,000; Washington, 560,- 

 000; Nevada, 600,000; Arizona, 620,000; Indi- 

 ana, 700,000, and all other states below 600,000 

 each. It will be seen that in comparison with 

 the ranges the states make rather a small 

 showing in the sheep industry, Ohio and Mich- 

 igan excepted. The fact of free grass upon the 

 Western ranges and the general healthfulness 

 of flocks in that arid region have had a deterring 

 influence upon the sheep industry in the old 

 farming states. Now, however, that the ranges 

 seem unable to supply the mutton that is de- 

 manded by our consumers it is time to forget 

 their menace and to take up again our old trade 

 of shepherding on our Eastern farms. 



There are several excellent reasons why this 

 is a rational and promising industry in which 

 to embark. The ranges are now fully stocked 

 with cattle and sheep. To increase the num- 

 bers of sheep means to drive out more cattle 

 and this the cattle men are resisting by armed 



