THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP ON THE FARM. 49 
they are capable of holding. By packing down the fleeces the expense 
for sacks can be cut down considerably, and they will handle all the 
better. From 30 to 40 fleeces can be placed in a sack, if well packed. 
STORING WOOL. 
It is a rather infrequent practice to store wool upon the farm, as 
it is usually sold soon after shearing. When stored, a clean, dry, 
vermin-proof place should be selected. A piano box is a very suitable 
receptacle for wool, if it is not immediately sacked. However, it is 
much better to sack the wool immediately after shearing, as it can 
be kept much cleaner. 3 
COST OF MAINTENANCE. 
The principal difficulties in computing the cost of maintenance of 
sheep are that they are usually kept in connection with other stock, 
and that oftentimes they consume feeds that would otherwise go to 
waste. There is also a wide range in the cost of maintenance in the 
different parts of the farming section, due mostly to climatic con- 
ditions. In the South, where little or no shelter is provided, and 
where the sheep subsist almost entirely upon pasture, the cost is 
very low; but where sheep must be housed and fed for several 
months of the year, as in New England, the other extreme is found. 
The cost of maintaining sheep has been estimated at from $0.50 
to more than $5 per head per year. The Tariff Board' reported an 
average cost of $2.44 for fine wool and $2.78 for cross-bred sheep in 
Ohio and neighboring States. The cost of maintenance in the farm- 
ing section would probably average between these latter figures. 
But even with the average cost given, it is impossible to calculate 
beforehand the profits of sheep husbandry. Those having had 
experience are aware of this fact. Differences in expenditures and 
receipts, due to management, location, fluctuation of market prices, 
and accidents, make the most careful calculations misleading. 
While it is impossible to calculate beforehand the profits, and 
while it is difficult to obtain the exact cost of maintenance, it is 
nevertheless very important that records of receipts and expendi- 
tures, as complete as possible, be kept of the flock. These would not 
only indicate whether a man was making a profit or losmg money, 
but would show the cost of keeping sheep to be made up of a number 
of items, several of which would probably be capable of considerable 
reduction. The items generally capable of reduction are labor, 
forage, depreciation on equipment and breeding stock, and mortality. 
1 Report of the Tariff Board, vol. 2, pt. 2. 
