820 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



I then bought another lamb, equally good, and bred him to 113 ewes, and expect to 

 still increase both wool and carcass. I always get more twins and triplets than sin- 

 gle lambs. 



W. M. Oorbit, Eose Creek, Mower County: 



Have kept sheep for fifteen years, and for the last ten years have kept from 400 to 

 700 on my farm. Received the highest price this winter for mutton. Usually sell 

 by the carload in winter all surplus sheep, and shear from 400 to 500 every spring. 

 Generally get from 18 cents to 20 cents per pound for unwashed wool, which averages 

 me about $1.40 per head. Received 21 cents per pound net for last year's clip. There 

 will be an increase in sheep in Minnesota, but we can not compete with the South 

 and West. 



David Haggard, Orookstoii, Polk County : 



A few farmers who have tried sheep-raising and have used any of the imported 

 breeds are more than convinced that this branch of farming will be a great success, 

 as one farmer, ay ho keeps about 150 sheep, claims that the increase in weight of fleece 

 will average 1| pounds per sheep above what they would yield when brought here 

 from Ohio. As regards the raising of roots, I believe that in no place can it be done 

 easier or with more sureness than has always been the case here, although some 

 seasons are better than others for this, depending in a great measure upon the amount 

 of moisture we have ; but the work of caring for them when growing is comparatively 

 easy indeed. Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, beets, and all the garden vege- 

 tables are very easy of cultivation and yield most prolifically. 



J. Fullerton writes the Northwestern Agriculturist, from northern 

 Minnesota, as follows : 



Sine ■', 1873 I have kept sheep in this North west, and never had a shed with more than 

 three sides tight. I like one 100 feet long, 30 feet wide, with a feed rack 3 feet 

 wide the whole length of it in the center. In snowy weather we feed in this rack. 

 After driving the sheep out of the slied the hay is filled in and tramped from end to 

 end to keep them from drivingtheir heads into it, and so getting seeds into the neck. 

 We always build our hay on top of the sheds for convenience. As soon as the rack 

 is filled the gate is opened and they are enjoying their meal (after the sheep haAe 

 been carefully shut in, no dirt or seeds must fall on them). We have never fed any- 

 thing but prairie hay and unthreshed oats, and these are spread in long windrows 

 about 10 feet apart. Oat straw, before it goes through the thresher, is fine feed. For 

 threshed grain and bran, wooden troughs could be placed inside the long rack in 

 the shed. 



James McMillan & Co., Minneapolis : 



The bright side of the sheep business is the steady demand and good prices for fat 

 sheep most of the year. Wethers from Montana and the Territories, averaging from 

 100 to 150 pounds live weight, are commanding from $5 to $5.50 per hundredweight; 

 lambs in proportion. This is more than double the average price of fat cattle. We 

 understand the total number of sheep in this county is increasing very rapidly. 

 Double the number of all varieties should be kept, as, unlike continuous grain-rais- 

 ing, they keep the farms from running out. 



D. L. How, Shakopee, Scott County: 



I commenced, in 1880, with 75 ewes in this county (timbered) ; had all conveniences. 

 First year lost 32 by wolves, next year 18. Removed them to Renville County. 

 Erected barns 20 by 80. Have now two barns 20 by 80. Intend to make one 40 by 

 40, and one 20 by 100. No floors ; height, 8^ ; shingle roof, one-thlrdpitch, ventilated 

 by chimneys and sliding ventilators on side and above head. We use timothy until 



