4 
farmers' bulletin 840. 
The higher prices of sheep prochicts foUowing 1914 were caused 
ill part, but not mainly, by market conditions resulting from the 
war. The supply of lamb and mutton had been decreasing for some 
time in spite of the growing demand, particularly for lambs. Wool 
values were advancing before the outbreak of the war. Although the 
world consumption of wool was increasing, no foreign country, with 
the exception of South Africa, seemed able to increase its exports. 
Increased supplies of wool in the future must come chiefly from farm 
flocks. In the United States conditions for farm sheep raising are 
more favorable than in any country wdiich has not already developed 
to the point at which sheep are necessary for intensive farming. 
Prospective values for lambs and wool and the special economies 
incident to their production insure for farm sheep raising a large 
and permanent place, either on those farms where sheep raising is 
made a specialty or where flocks form a permanent part of a system 
of mixed farming. 
SECTIONAL PROSPECTS FOR SHEEP PRODUCTION. 
In the Eastern States the large and numerous flocks of earlier 
years were kept almost entirely for wool production. Subsequently 
the increasing wool supplies from other sections and from abroad, 
together Avith the demand for other agricultural products of higher 
A alue, brought about a decline in the number of farm sheep in these 
States. The market demand for mutton and lamb at that time was 
very limited, and when it became broader the cheaply produced 
western supplies were for some time equal to all requirements. 
To-day the western shipments have not only ceased to increase but 
have actually grown less as a result of the reduction of the range 
area. 
In Xew England particularly, while many new flocks have re- 
cently been started, hesitancy has been due to a wrong interpreta- 
tion of former statistics of farm sheep in that section. The decline 
that once occurred in Xew England flocks has but slight relation 
to present conditions and prospects. The sheep raising of the pres- 
ent is planned to market lambs at from 4 to 5 months of age, and 
wool, though important, is not the primar}^ consideration. The full 
and economical utilization of Xew England farm labor, pastures, 
hay, and silage calls for more and larger flocks to supply the near-by 
markets. The present production can probably be multiplied three 
times without materially lessening other live-stock production. 
Throughout the entire length of the Appalachian Mountain Range 
in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia^ West Virginia, Kentucky, 
Tennessee, and Xorth Carolina there are large areas of land com- 
paratively low in value and well suited for sheep raising. 
