SHEEP UNDER FARM CONDITIONS I7I 



necting link between soil fertility and crop pro- 

 duction. Hogs have always been largely depended 

 upon by the farmers of this region, and will con- 

 tinue to be, but it seems clear that there is room 

 for many millions of sheep at present on these 

 high-priced farms. The maintenance of sheep on 

 the farm is a profitable business, and the man who 

 likes this particular line of stock raising and is 

 willing to give close study to details of management 

 will be able to realize larger profits from this source 

 than from probably any other one branch of agri- 

 cultural activity. A start in the business does not 

 require a very large outlay of capital, and the in- 

 dustry is comparatively easy to enter. The most 

 prudent and advisable way to start in the sheep 

 business is to purchase a few good ewes of approved 

 type, and then expand as the knowledge of the busi- 

 ness grows and as circumstances seem to justify. 

 By this means., the farm will not be overstocked by 

 placing upon it more than it will support, and the 

 number can be gradually increased up to the total 

 carrying capacity of the land. 



ROOM FOR EXPANSION 



There are thousands of farms throughout New 

 England and the eastern and southern states, as 

 well as the middle and northwestern states, which 

 have considerable areas of land absolutely unfit for 

 anything but pasture. Much of this is over- 

 grown with brush and weeds unfit for cattle 

 pasture, and giving absolutely no return upon 

 its value. Such land as this is ideal for 

 sheep raising, except such of it as is extremely low 

 and wet, and may be made to produce large quan- 

 tities of wool and mutton and pay handsome divi- 



