WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI KIVER. 831 



W, A. Day, Blakesburg, Wapello County: 



For the past eight years I have had nothing but pure-bred or imported sheep of 

 the Shropshire breed, and I have been successful in making more money out of them 

 than on any other kind of stock I keep on the farm. The sheep industry is gaining 

 ground all the time, and good ones are most sought after. The result will be — added 

 wealth and prosperity to our State. 



A. B, Phelps, Competine, Wapello County: 



I get far more profit out of my sheep than I do out of cattle, hogs, or horses, and I 

 handle all kinds. The future outlook is very encouraging, for there are so many 

 small flocks starting, all of a good quality. Iowa is bound to keep in the lead in 

 the value of her sheep. 



Henry E. Brown, Grinnell, Poweshiek County: 



The most profitable sheep for us are the coarse-wool mutton breeds, as we can sell 

 our lambs at feom six to seven months old, weighing from 80 to 100 pounds. The 

 sheep interests are improving now, and mutton always commands a good price. 



W. O. Fritchman, Muscatine, Muscatine County: 



My experience with sheep is that they pay better than any other class of livestock, 

 as they can be handled with less labor and capital, and when properly cared for are 

 less liable to diseases than other live stocji;, and as farmers are beginning to find this 

 out they are taking better care of their sheep. This industry iS improving, and the 

 outlook is very encouraging. 



H. G. Lillard, Weldon, Decatiu- County : 



I first bought 150 lambs when prices were low, paying $1.60 per head. The next 

 spring the wool paid for them, and later I was oifered $3 per head for my sheep. 

 People are paying more attention to mutton sheep than in former years. Some of 

 the local disadvantages to the business are higli-priced lands and too much mud in 

 the spring. 



Ben. Eichardson, Spring Valley, Decatur County: 



1 have made more money raising sheep than at any other business, and yet I do 

 not beUeve nor practice housing them, except when it is storming. Never permit 

 my ewes to have but one service, that date is registered, the ewe marked, lettered 

 or numbered, and separated from the flock for forty-eight hours. The local disad- 

 vantages to the industry are dogs, wolves, and a lack of Eastern competition in wool 

 buyers. 

 J. H. McKibben, Albion, Marshall County: 



For the past eighteen years my sheep have made me two dollars where other 

 stock has made me one. Nor is that all; sheep are much nicer to handle than other 

 stock besides they enrich the land as no other stock will. The industry is improv- 

 ing all the time, and when farmers generally find out that the sheep is the animal 

 that wears the "golden hoof," there will be five to keep them where now there is one. 



Geo. W. Franklin, Atlantic, Cass County: 



My first flock of sheep, fifteen years ago, were scrubs, shearing five pounds, but now 

 I have pure-bred Cotswolds whose fleeces average 12.2 pounds. With Iowa's many 

 natural advantages to the flockmaster, her dry climate, dry soil, rolling land, abun- 

 dance of grass, and pure water, this industry, though in its infancy, if properly 

 encouraged, will demand a large share of attention now paid to swine and cattle. 



