The Mineral argus., 1884-07-24
annual Meeting Of the Montana WOO-erOwers'
Association.

The annual session of the Montana
Wool Growers Association, convened
in Fl. Benton on the 10th inst. The
attendance was quite large, some of the
largest wool growers Of the territory
being present. We publish an extract
from the annual address Of the presi-
dent, o. G. Cooper, for Inc benefit OF
our readers who are engaged in the
industry:
Upon the careful handling of our
herds. or upon the herders, depends
Il success-our profit and loss. The
condition of the herd is the indicator.
Observe the indicator and see whether
it points to profit or loss. Hyour herder
does not underst and his business, in
struct him. Give him to understand
that he is to do the herding, and he is
not there to make the dog do the work.
After shearing dip your sheep, if
they need it. They need it ifthey have
ticks. or scab, or have been exposed to
scab. / would advise men to dip if the
skin is not clean and soft. 1t opens up
the pores, cleanses the skin and leaves
it in a healthy condition. Move your
sheep on some good, fresh range as the
grass becomes dusty and trlmped
down. Visit your herds often. See
that they are out of corral early and
late and give them time to go through
the gate. Use your dog IS little as pos
sible. In October, if you have more
than one herd, Gull out all old ewes
and small lambs, scrubs, etc, and put
them on the best feed possible. Pro-
tect them from rain and snow by brush
OF shed. If you have enough run
them at your best ranch; feed them
early; better to have them in fair con-
dition the first of March without hay
than to have them poor with hay, as
hay will not save a poor old eve in
March. If you do not have enough to
take care Of and make it pay, sell them
to some energetic fellow and take his
note. He viii make it pay and pay
YOU. If he does not you have lost only
your natural loss, which would have
occurred if you had not cut them out.
If YOU have q poor eve in the fall and
you can't dispose of her or give her
proper attention, cut her throat and
put her pelt on the fence. BY so doing
you save her from misery and save
your hay.
Many of our winter sheds are not
what they should be. They should be
made warmer and then ventilated ac-
cording to weather. 1t would be much
better if they were of an e temper
ature. Then if your sheep were poor
they would nor crowd to the warm part
and smother. There is no danger of
fat sheep smothering; but poor ones
will pile up if your corral is not of the
same temperature throughout.
In putting up hay, if it is convenient
put your best hay where you can get il
TO feed the hospital band. 1t is a rare
thing that the main bands get hay OF
need it. l think, after culling my herd
in the fall, | can winter it where cattle
or horses will winter without feed.
Put your bucks in from the LIST to the
10th of December. If you are neal
the mountains, where you have spring
storms, the latter date is the best
otherwise IKE former. They should
not be allowed to stay in the herd ovel
twenty-four hours without rest anC
feed. If you cannot take them on
and feed them do not put them all il
at once, as you soon have them all ruT
down, and will have poor lambs anC
many barren ewes.
am inclined to think hat we ar
often imposed upon by shearers, not 81
much in price as in the sighting o
work. The question is how many cal
YOU shear? not how well can you d.
the work? | would recommend tina
all new beginners be paid by the day
that they be instructed how to shear S
rs to keep the fleece in the best condi
ton, shear -moothly and handle shee'
with ease. When they have learne
this let them increase the speed. Som
shearers are worth more to me tina.
others. The same can be applied
herders.
Do yonr duty by your herds if 20
wished to succeed. Be able to tell whf
is needed; study their wants. tn.
is of more importance than grade {
wool, high tariff, high wages or bi
grub bills.