738 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



class of sbeep to start a flock with. Had not the winter of 1889-'90 

 been unusually mild the loas would have been large, but as the sheep 

 were well fed and housed and run in small flocks the loss was quite 

 light even among aged ewes. A few flocks of scabby sheep were also 

 brought in, but under the present restrictive laws this is not likely to 

 occur again. 



There are a few "promoters" who are really doing much to foster the 

 sheep industry. They are experienced sheepmen and bring in only 

 choice animals, and while they lease sheep so as to secure themselves 

 from loss, their terms are fair and equitable. The lessees receive a due 

 share of the profits and a certain chance to have a desirable flock of 

 sheep of their own within a reasonable period. The day of unscrupu- 

 lous speculators is fast passing away, but their misdeeds remain in 

 some localities, to the disadvantage of the industry. The people of 

 the State have, however, learned a great deal of practical value about 

 sheep husbandry during the past year or so, and in almost every county 

 there are some that have demonstrated what class of sheep are best 

 suited to their section of the State, and what methods of conducting 

 the business are most desirable in every way. 



GENERAL FACTS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. 



Generally speaking, the sheep industry of North Dakota was begun 

 at a time when everything in the way of agricultural pursuits was at 

 a low ebb. North Dakota came into statehood with all her financial 

 expectations based on her great staple crop of spring wheat. This 

 crop was their main standby, and other crops and livestock hus- 

 bandry were merely incidental 5 therefore, when the wheat crop failed 

 the husbandman was financially embarrassed. More than one failure 

 in succession meant, in most cases, ruin, especially in the newly set- 

 tled portions of the State, and that includes the greater portion of 

 North Dakota. 



The years 1889-'90 found the farmers of North Dakota suffering from 

 agricultural depression to a greater extent perhaps than any other 

 western State. The farmers of this State had but one crop to depend 

 on, and when that failed they had no other resource. Notwithstanding 

 this discouraging condition, it may ultimately result beneficially to the 

 State. This experience has taught the farmers that they can not afford 

 to rely on a single crop, and if they are to prosper in this country, so 

 magniiicently endowed by nature, they must study its resources aud 

 climate with special reference to such branches of agriculture as have 

 a special adaptation to North Dakota, and above all strive for a diver- 

 sified agriculture. 



When a very considerable number of farmers had reached the dis- 

 tressed condition which resulted from pursuing the single-crop idea, 

 and like Nicodemus of old, were asking, "What shall 1 do to be saved?" 

 each one began to look about him with a view to bettering his condi- 



