STOCK-GROWING OUT WEST. 175 



" We have now on hand 6000 head of graded sheep. 

 In February, 1877, we purchased in company with an- 

 other grower 2500 head, and last March another lot of 

 1800 for new herds. Both these bands are doing well. 

 The rate of profit is hard to estimate, as that depends 

 upon economy, judicious management, and the grade of 

 sheep raised. A herd of 3000 head of well-graded 

 ewes ought to raise 80 per cent, lambs. We have raised 

 100 per cent, this year. Each sheep will clip from 

 $1.25 to $1.50 worth of wool per annum. Fifty per 

 cent, will herd and keep them, and 5 per cent, will 

 cover all losses. Our losses during the past year have 

 been less than 2 per cent. We have used nothing but 

 pure-blood cotswold rams in our flocks ; I believe they 

 are the best, and adapted to our climate. They seem 

 to stand our cold weather well, and in deep snows they 

 have length of limbs and strength of body to wade 

 through it and paw for food. They are very prolific, 

 and make excellent nurses. Their lambs are dropped 

 large, strong, and well wooled. The merinos are directly 

 the opposite in all these points. They are not prolific, 

 nor are they careful nurses ; their lambs are born small, 

 weak, and naked. Our lambing seasons are subject to 

 severe storms and cold nights. These are my observa- 

 tions in handling both coarse- and fine-wooled sheep. 

 Our graded sheep clip an average of six pounds per 

 head. The original herd clipped only four pounds. 

 We have never fed any hay, and make no provision 

 for feeding further than to keep the winter range fresh. 

 For shelter we put up a wall of logs and cover them 

 with poles and hay, which makes a sufficient protection 



