WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 909 



Sheep brought into this district from other States suffer some during 

 acclimation the first year, but if properly cared for the first winter they 

 seldom show any deterioration either in constitution or fleece. But if 

 they are subjected to the usual treatment the wool becomes dry and 

 harsh, and some of the animals become debilitated, take fever, and die. 

 This is true frequently of sheep brought from the States north and east, 

 but rarely the case with those brought from California. The change 

 of climate affects Merino sheep brought in from other States about the 

 same as it does man coming from other localities. No permanent effects 

 are noticed, yet nearly one year is required for thorough acclimation. 



The class of rams in use are mainly Merino, Spanish, or French, pure- 

 breds and grades, although not many of the French rams are in use, 

 except in an experimental way. The breeding season for this district 

 is from September 15 to November 15, the rams remaining with the 

 ewes from four to six weeks; however, some of the flockmasters breed 

 their ewes during May or Jane. At some of the ranches, where they 

 have high-priced and well-fed thoroughbred Merino rams they breed to 

 each from 35 to 75 ewes, but the average for rams of all classes of dif- 

 ferent ages is 100 ewes for every 3 rams. The sheepmen buy rams 

 from eighteen months old and upward, and use them as long as they 

 are fit for service. Occasionally middle- wool rams are used, such as 

 Southdowns or Shropshires, but not many of the English breeds are 

 used for improving the sheep. The climate is too warm, and they are 

 too heavy to stand the travel necessary in grazing; besides, they do not 

 herd together in iiocks like the Merino or Mexican, or their grades. 

 The average number of lambs varies from 50 to 80 and as high as 90 

 per cent. The nixmber ot ewes failing to produce lambs varies accord- 

 ing to condition and circumstances; an average for several years would 

 vary from 7 to 10 per cent. 



There is but little feed or shelter provided in this region for sheep, 

 except for stock rams or weak animals. In that part of the district 

 where crops are grown and good range not abundant, some feeding is 

 done in the winter months. The ordinary shelter is what nature pro- 

 vides, such as a south hillside, oak groves, ravines, bluffs, chaparral, 

 or brush pens. Sometimes provision is made for the thoroughbred 

 sheep by building plank or brush sheds open to the south, or placing 

 the flock on a portion of the range having timber or brnsh. 



The grazing lands used in this part of Texas are partly owned and 

 partly leased. The State lands are leased at 1 cents per acre. Some 

 of the sheepmen own part and lease the rest of the range. The value 

 of land is j)laced at about $2 per acre. The most desirable ranches are 

 often leased as high as 5 to 10 cents per acre. Owning land is coming 

 more into favor every year, and especially now that the sheep industry 

 is more profitable. 



The main object of the flockmasters has been to produce wool — the 

 production of mutton is incidental — but owing to the prevailing high 

 prices for mutton since 1888 there is a manifest tendency to breed with 



