894 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF IHE UNITED STATES 



bucks I could find. Tlie first year I raised 175 lambs, but at the next sbeariug I 

 only had 215 fleeces ; the second year I raised 100 lambs. The largest number I ever 

 sheared was 222 sheep. We are cursed with numerous dogs ; besides, we have the 

 big black and gray wolves, which secrete themselves in the swamps and bottoms. 

 There is very little encouragement for sheep husbandry in this section, for the reason 

 stated, together with our rainy winters ; however, if the country was in a better 

 state of cultivation, had better drainage and suitable shelter, sheep would do fairly 

 well. 



O. L. Dodd, Mountain Home, Baxter County : 



I commenced with 8 Merino ewes. Stock within ten years increased to 200 head 

 of sheep, after selling each year all the mutton, wethers, and wool. I consider the 

 sheep industry the most profitable investment that a man can invest money in this 

 county of Baxter. 



S. M. Dyer, Dyer, Crawford County : 



There have not been many sheep raised here since the war. The people turned 

 their attention to cotton, though sheep do well here, with very small cost. They 

 make their own living in the woods, except in winter, when they are fed on cotton 

 seed. About twenty years ago there were 2,000 sheep brought here from Ohio and 

 herded in a swamp, and all died in the spring from some disease. 



J. S. Stotts, Jonesboro, Craighead County: 



There are very few sheep in this portion of the State, and those few are common 

 scrub stock. No one makes it a business. Wliat few sheep there are run out and no 

 attention is given to them in regard to breeding. What wool we have brings the 

 biggest market price. Sheep do well here, and if anyone would give it the proper 

 attention the industry would pay. 



W. A. Yarnell, Searcy, White County: 



I know of no better opening for the profitable investment of money by farmers of 

 small means, say from $1,000 to $5,000, than in the stock business in the hilly or 

 mountain region of Arkansas for sheep, and in the valleys and rich bottom lands for 

 hogs, cattle, and horses. 



J. T. Hannaford, Morrillton, Conway County: 



Bermuda grass will grow well on almost any land here, and is the best permanent 

 pasture for summer. And for winter feed cotton seed crushed with ear corn makes 

 good feed, and I believe sheep can be pastured and fed more economically here than 

 any other stock. On a mountain place I kept about 200 head of Merino and Shrop- 

 shire sheep. 



John B. Watson, Jersey, Bradley County: 



The sheep industry is one that has had but little attention shown it in this county 

 until lately. Our people are beginning to see the profit in wool-growing, and there 

 were some few thoroughbred sheep brought in 'during the past two years. Sheep 

 have but Uttle attention paid them, but when they do, the profit is good. They are 

 allowed to graze on the commons, and often are not penned for weeks during the 

 spring and summer except for shearing, and even with this careless way they pay a 

 nice profit. Cotton is king hero, to the detriment of all other industries. But the 

 time is near at hand when sheep will be made profitable here. I have some lambs 

 that would sell for $2.50 now; so have some of my neighbors. 



W. D. Clements, Eover, Yell County: 



This is a mountainous county, the larger percent wildlauds infested with wolves; 



