Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-20

will support thousands of tlocks OF
sheep, kept almost exclusively for the
wool they will produce. There is no
I Nuht room enough there for ilocks To
give us all the wool this country needs.
The Rocky Mo,mtlia Hasbaadmaa has
an article upon the subject which will
be of no little interest 10 the people 9TH.
er than those of Oregon, and for this
reason we reproduce il here; The wool
most wanted in eastern markets and
consequently commanding the highest
prices, is the grade known rs No. | or
dine medium, or three-eiShts blood. II
happens fortunately that this is the
grade most easily produced here, and
the most profitable 10 the Montana wool
grower. Ii is the result OF u cross of
any long wool variety upon the Meri.
no, and would he easily produced here
by crossing Cotswold, Loicestershlro or
shropshire upon full or throe.ousrtor
blood Merino. Ii would he reasonably
nearly attained by crossing the common
CIR Oregon sheep with the Mermo-at
least the result would he great i'm.
provement of much OF the present wool
product. The wool might not ho as
long rs is desirable, but would 10 fine
enough. IL is better to have the wool
too iire than too coarse. The result Of
the cross first suggested would
be large and vigorous sheep,
which would do we'll even in large
band, and be we'll calculated to endure
the winters and get its living even If it
should occasionally have to dig in tho
snow for It.; which would always own
its lambs and raise them, and ailording
u medium grade of wool if hereafter
the demand should change to either
could be made with the cross in breed
ing. Eastern farmers cannot afford to
raise tGcse large sheep because il is toe
expensive 10 feed them, while here the
amount of fodder consumed is not con.
sidCration. There is now less OF this
grade OF fine medium wool produced
than any other, and this state OF things
is likely to always continue. The dit.
ference in value between wool OF the
common sheep and the wool of the
sheep SO improved, would he from three
to five cents per pound, and II the com
mon sheep has n coarse, hairy skirt,
seven cents per pound. Such wool
would also grade which is not always in
full supply II is probable that such
sheep would yield q proportion of tho
worstod woods, known in markotS east
M combining and decline, witch have
of late years sold for very full prices;
but while tho sheep are exposed To all
weathers, it is not expected that the
worsted selection can he very large.
Montana wool has already attained in
the Boston market n better reputation
than that Of any other territory and
some OF tho states, partly because of It's
grade, but mainly because Of its cond-
ton and freedom from burrs and seeds.
If now 1t can improve its grade Ms sug-
gested and establish well fixed and
and known type SO that Montana wool
will be recognized wherever exhibited,
better, larger and moro regular prices
can be obtained. Already tho high rep
utation of Montana woods is attracting
into the territory parties who desire to
embark into business of sheep raising.
We expect to see the product very rap
idly increased. We believe that grow.
ers will find it largely for their advan'
tage to shear as late in the season II,
they can, thus saving u greater grow,
and weight Of wool, and especially b
growth Of brighter and stronger staple
which adds To the appearance Of the
llaeco rs well NJ 10 It's value. This il
omphatioally true If sheep have the
scab, M the indications of that disease
largely disappear i'll midsummer. 4
american Sockmdn