FLOGK HUSBANDRY IN WESTERN STATES. 183 



Utah and Galifomia have been bred up from a 

 Mexican basis. 



After the infusion of Merino blood the use 

 of some of the mutton breeds produces an ad- 

 mirable lamb, sprightly, a good feeder, healthy 

 and rugged. There will occur, however, a 

 good many cases of reversion to type, when 

 the Mexican character will crop out, modified, 

 but not destroyed by the foreign bloods. 



"the good old times" in new MEXICO. 



Under the old fashioned regime in New 

 Mexico not much improvement of the herds 

 wa.s possible. There was no provision for wii^- 

 ter feeding and there often occurred a some- 

 what long period of semi-starvation. Water 

 was not readily accessible and often of execra- 

 ble quality, being supplied by shallow pools 

 or lakes that became incredibly foul and dan- 

 gerous to drink from. There is now a consid- 

 erable number of men engaged in sheep grow- 

 ing under better conditions. Ne'^r the irriga- 

 ble valleys vast amounts of alfalfa are grown 

 and winter feeding is practiced to some ex- 

 tent. Better rams are used than formerly, the 

 Rambouillet having been used to a consider- 

 able extent, together with Delaines and other 

 Merinos. In some places Shropshire and 

 even Cotswold blood has been introduced. 

 Native Mexican sheep owners have in many 

 instances given way to American owners and 

 in other instances have themselves learned 

 better methods. A peculiar industry of this 

 region, especially down along the Pecos river 



