Managing the Farm Flock 41 



they do not know where their next meal is coming from, but still keep 

 from one to half a dozen mongrels that put in the night killing lambs 

 or anything they can find. I strongly advocate a high dog tax as being 

 the most effective method of combating the cur dog nuisance. 



Sheep as Plant Scavengers 



Henry says : "Sheep are the plant scavengers of the farm. Because 

 of its dainty manner of nibbling we might suppose its likes were few 

 and its dislikes many. However, just the opposite is the case, and no 

 domestic or wild animal is capable of subsisting on more different kinds 

 of food; grasses, shrubs, roots, cereal grains, leaves, and in times of 

 scarcity, fish and meats. In Norway and Sweden they often have to 

 exist through a hard winter on pungent, resinous evergreens." 



Twenty-five Reasons Why the Average American Farmer Should 

 Keep Some Sheep On His Farm 



1. He can procure any number that will suit his financial condition. 



2. Sheep pay dividends twice a year, making quick returns on the 

 investment. 



3. The per cent of profit depends on the shepherd, and may be 1 to 

 200 per cent. 



4. There are no expensive buildings necessary. 



5. They will do better on poor producing land and do more towards 

 building it up than any other animal. 



6. They both clothe and feed their master. 



7. Owing to their fine mastication they do not scatter weed seed over 

 a farm through their manure. 



8. If the feed-lot is dry when they go into it, it will be dry when they 

 come out, because they do not tramp it up and get it knee deep in mud. 



9. They will do more towards cleaning up a farm and keeping a 

 good one good than any other animal. 



10. They are gentle to handle and nice to feed. 



11. Wheat and rye fields may be pastured winter and spring, when 

 other animals would injure the crops. 



12. They tramp the earth well dovsoi on the roots of wheat and rye, 

 and by cropping it down cause it to stool out and produce a bigger crop. 



13. The cost of maintenance is small. 



14. Sheep can be fattened with less grain and in a shorter period of 

 time than almost any other animal. 



15. Any class of feed can be turned to a profit through sheep, by 

 adding to it the rations required. 



