SHEEP-FARMING IN THE WEST. 115 



about 3000 head of sheep, a cross between the Mexican 

 ewes and the merinos, about two-thirds of the herd being 

 ewes. The cost of these is $2 each, and of the merino 

 bucks $30 each. I keep two bucks to every hundred 

 ewes. My average clip is three pounds per head a year, 

 and I estimate the value of the clip at 35 to 40 cents 

 per pound. It required one man only to herd the 

 flock, and I pay him $45 per month, including board. 

 The bucks I keep in an enclosed pasture, commencing 

 May 1st and to be continued to December 1st of each 

 year. I divide my herd, putting the breeding ewes in 

 a separate flock from the wethers and lambs, requiring 

 two herders, one for each flock ; but I think it pays to 

 incur the additional expense, and I shall keep it up in 

 the future. My average increase is about 75 per cent, 

 for the ewes, or 50 per cent, for the whole flock per 

 annum. In five years' experience I have never fed 

 any hay or grain to my flock, and depend entirely on 

 the native grasses, with a few exceptions, as in cases of 

 sickness, or some fine-blooded bucks or ewes. I think 

 we can claim in Colorado to be entirely exempt from 

 disease incident to sheep in the States, such as foot-rot 

 and scab. I have never had the least trouble with 

 them here." Mr. Merriman is a careful breeder, has 

 succeeded well, and his experience is very instructive 

 and interesting. 



On the Laramie Plains considerable trouble was had 

 with scab, but a complete antidote and cure Avas found 

 in tobacco dip. A few pounds of tobacco boiled and 

 the juice mixed with water will dip many sheep, and a 

 souse each spring after shearing will keep them clear 



