STOCK-GROWING OUT WEST. 173 



then we dipped the sheep in a solution of strong lye 

 and tobacco, and they did well. I believe we will have 

 a better crop of both lambs and wool this year than ever 

 before, and we expect to clip at least four pounds of 

 fleece per head. I have a grain-ranch at Willow 

 Creek, Montana, where I keep my cattle principally. 

 I have let the ranch on shares, but my cattle are in my 

 own possession. I have 200 head. I cannot give you 

 much information about cattle, as I pay most attention 

 to horses. I have 75 brood-mares and 3 stallions, which 

 I keep in the stables for breeding purposes. I keep 

 the mares herded from the first of May until the middle 

 of August, when they are turned out and bred for the 

 balance of the year. The stable-stallions are well kept 

 and groomed. The mares are led out to them, each 

 mare booked, and her colt recorded. I endeavor to 

 improve the breed by putting horses to mares that are 

 no kin to them. I castrate and halter and break my 

 colts every spring, when they are one year old. At 

 three years of age they are put into harness or under 

 the saddle. I have sold but few horses or cattle since 

 I commenced the stock-raising business. If I were to 

 sell out, I think after deducting losses I could realize 

 SO per cent, per annum on my investment out of my 

 sheep, and 25 per cent, on my horses. My sheep are 

 mixed between Spanish merino and cotswold. I think 

 they are a very good lot, but suppose the Spanish me- 

 rino to be the best. I expect they will clip over four 

 pounds of wool to each sheep this year. I believe the 

 sheep I sold Mr. Hussey will do better than that. I 

 feed no hay in winter, except to my stallions and some 



15* 



