122 THE BEEF BONANZA. 



increase slower, so it is important that the grower should 

 have as many ewes as possible with which to begin 

 business. 



Mr. E. M. Post, of Cheyenne, "Wyoming Territory, 

 is quite an extensive sheep-grower. His herd is made 

 up of Mexican sheep which he is crossing with merinos; 

 the mutton is excellent, but the wool poor and coarse. 

 The ewes breed with wonderful rapidity, and in lamb- 

 ing time four men are employed to look after the little 

 ones until they get strong enough to take care of them- 

 selves. Mr. Post thinks it is economy to hire plenty 

 of help during the dropping season. Eight men are 

 required in shearing time, and the average yield is 

 about three pounds to the fleece, worth 25 cents per 

 pound. The cross-breeds shear the first year three 

 pounds each, but of a much better quality of wool, and 

 second year four to five pounds. Mr. Post's account 

 for his herd for a year stood as follows : 



8200 Mexican sheep, bought at $2 per head . . . $6400 



Corrals and hay 1500 



Merino bucks, $50 each, one to every 100 ewes, 2000 ewes 1000 



Total $8900 



Expenses, labor, and incidentals . . . . . $1000 

 Losses, 2 per cent . . 128 



Total $1128 



Returns : "Wool, 9000 pounds, at 25 cents per pound . $2250 

 Increase from 2000 ewes, 1800 lambs, at $2.25 each . 4050 



Total $6300 



Deduct expenses 1128 



Net profit, or 60 per cent, on investment . . . $5172 



