908 SHEEP INDUSTRY OP THE UNITED STATES 



flocks in this section; they have been improved and bred up by the use 

 of Merino bucks, so that older flocks consist of what is known as grade 

 Merinos. In the vicinity of San Antonio and in the eastern part of 

 this district there are a few small flocks of pure-bred and grade South- 

 downs, Shropshires, and Gotswolds. 



Nearly every character of soil is represented by the grazing lands of 

 this region — everything from the rich arable land to the dry and gravelly 

 highlands; also freestone lands, mesquite prairies, prickly-pear flats, 

 limestone, and the black Avaxy soils of the Eio Grande Valley. There 

 is considerable black prairie and clay land, as well as rocky and moun- 

 tainous ; in fact, all kinds of soil and surface, from the mesquite flats 

 and rolling prairie to hills, tablelands, and mountains. And yet all of 

 this land can be utilized by the sheep-raiser. The open prairies and 

 table-lands are used for summer range, and the woody or brush country 

 and the valleys for winter range. In Menard County there is consider- 

 able black loam soil, while in DeWitt County there is a good deal of 

 light sandy soil, as well as black sandy, with calcareous subsoil. The 

 grass is abundant on good soil and sparse on the poor — the rocky and 

 hilly land. Water is supplied by running streams, natural water holes 

 and springs, or from deep wells, some of which are bored to the depth of 

 200 to 300 feet. Many sheepmen dam the creeks in order to have on 

 hand a constant supply. Others excavate reservoirs for the same pur- 

 pose. In the extreme south end of this district there are many lagoons 

 that afford water at all times, unless for a short period during a pro- 

 tracted drought. 



In most of the counties in this section there is some timber, consist- 

 ing of live oak, mesquite, hackberry, and chaparral. In some counties 

 there is no shade whatever. The varieties of native grasses consist of 

 the different species of mesquite, gramma, and sage grass. 



The losses of sheep from wild animals in southwestern Texas are 

 enormous, notwithstanding the constant guard of a herder. The loss 

 would be very much greater were it not for this constant vigilance. 

 From special reports received from representative flockmasters in the 

 different counties embraced in this district, it appears that not a single 

 flock escaped this depredation. The amount of loss of course varies, 

 covering a range of from 2 to 20 per cent. The average loss in the 

 counties of Cameron, Maverick, Bexar, Bandera, Jeff Davis, Valverde, 

 Presidio, Aledina, and Uvalde is placed at 10 per cent. One report 

 from Bexar County estimates the writer's loss from strays and wild 

 animals at 20 per cent. The animal that commits most of the serious 

 depredations is the wolf, although the mountain lion and wildcat do 

 considerable damage. It is a significant fact, however, that those 

 counties which have the greatest loss from wild animals report little or 

 no loss from exposure, and vice versa. The heaviest loss from exposure 

 m this district was in the counties of San Saba, Maverick. Bandera, 

 Llano, and Lasalle. ' 



