SHEEP-FARMING IN THE WEST. 139 



our famed merinos. Our national sheep-walks, as yet 

 untrod by the golden hoof, embrace an area of country 

 larger than the pastures of ancient Assyria and the 

 famed pastures of Europe, and had we a population 

 one-half as dense as the sheep-districts of France and 

 Spain, without lessening the other staple products sent 

 to market, we could clothe our own people, and pro- 

 duce a sufficiency of wool at 40 cents per pound to pay 

 interest and principal on our debt of $2,000,000,000 

 within the time which has been required to earn the 

 well-deserved name of our American merinos." 



I can bear testimony to the entire truth of what Mr. 

 Grinnell says. In one flock of over 2000 head, on the 

 Laramie Plains, only two sheep died during the last 

 winter. Of Moore & Brother's flock, consisting of 

 over 10,000 head, only eight had died up to February 

 1st. All were fat, and mutton being killed every day, 

 although the sheep had not had a mouthful to eat 

 except the natural grasses. 



