WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI EIVEE. 749 



mauy sheep -were shipped in that were infected with it. I have done very well with 

 them. I received $1.57 per head, net, for my wool last year. Raised 93 per cent of 

 lambs. I have at this date about 105 living lambs per 100 ewes. I have about 510 

 sheep to shear, and 340 lambs. I am grading up my ewes with Dickinson Delaiuo 

 rams. 



A. L. Hanscom, Towner, McHenry County: 



I brought in about 300 ewes to this county in 1882, and I never lost a sheep by any 

 disease, to my knowledge; if I lost any it was generally on account of somebody's 

 carelessness. I have traveled over this country from Maine to the Pacific Ocean, 

 and I think this is the finest region for sheep-raising on a small scale, say about 1,000 

 to 2,000 head. That would be the largest number I would advise keeping together, 

 and my choice would be to get a good, large, strong, healthy sheep. Cross Cotswold 

 ewes with Shropshire or Southdown rams, then you get good muttou and fleece of 

 wool and a higher per cent of lambs. 



Dugald Campbell, Glencoe, Emmons County: 



Eight years ago I was almost, if not quite, alone in the sheep business here. Within 

 the last two years capitalists have taken it up and are distributing on shares, or 

 Belling to farmers at very high prices on longtime. The capitalists figure on getting 

 30 to 40 per cent on their money. If they do, the workers get nothijig but experi- 

 ence, which will not long satisfy them. In States where little feed is required and 

 large ranges can be run over, the worker might do well with sheep on shares, but 

 here I fail to see how he can do more than make living wages. In many States there 

 are laws against usury, but no Shylock ever exacted such terrible usury as those 

 companies exact in their contracts from the despairing wheat farmers, who, in their 

 distress, are clutching at wool, which will to many prove a show indeed. 



William Eea, sr., Fargo, Cass County : 



In Dakota I have some doubt of sheep husbandry, except out in the northwestern 

 part where it is not adapted to wheat. Very mauy inexperienced men have gone 

 into the business of sheep-raising, and a good many brought all "scabby" sheep into 

 this locality and sold them to men who do not know anything about sheep. Some 

 want to go out of the business already. I will give you my method of feeding mut- 

 ton sheep : I have open pens which hold 1,000 sheep, all round shed for shelter, 

 plenty of hay racks, kept full of hay ; feed screenings ; have patent boxes, keep them 

 full so the sheep can eat whenever they want to. 1 pump the water by steam; keep 

 water troughs full, as they require plenty of water. I find the best feeders are a 

 cross from Merino ewes and Shropshire bucks. Merino sheep will not pay to feed 

 until two or three years old. Other breeds will feed from one to three, so the coarse- 

 wool is much more profitable to feed. Merinos for wool. 



LAWS FAVOKABI.E TO THE INDUSTRY. 



It is quite evident from the laws enacted by the second legislative, 

 assembly of Korth Dakota last winter, that the sheep industry was re- 

 garded as of considerable importance, and one that deserved whatever 

 encouragement and protection it was in the province of a legislative 

 assembly to enact in its behalf. So general wasthe interest manifested 

 in regard to sheep husbandry, that it was not difficult to secure the 

 necessary legislation to promote the developmeiit of the industry, and 

 thereby enhance the valuable resources of this young Commonwealth. 

 The provisions made are in brief as follows : 



Making dogs property. — Section 160 of the civil code was amended 



