Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-11-15
AGRICULTURE.
HOW SHEEP PAY.

Stockman.
There are perhaps as many claims as
to profit and loss in sheep, and the pro-
cesses and conditions out of which these
arise as are made in connection with
any other stock grown upon the farm.
While these claims are based upon act
ual experience in nearly all cases, cir
cumstances, breeds, wants to be met and
opportunities for meeting them, vary so
widely that the standpoints from which
men view the subject of profit produce a
great deal of confusion in drawing con-
clusions as to results and how they are
to be secured. The sheepman who is so
located that he can enjoy handsome re-
turns from early spring lambs, and is
justified by circumstances in making ev-
erything subServient to their production
does not see why all who keep sheep
cannot make their profits in the same
way, forgetting that his business would
be ruined if sheepmen in general be-
came his competitors. Others find them
selves so situated that mutton can best
be made their chief standby, and that
whatever they get out of the wool is so
near surplus that the matter of price of
wool is a lesser consideration. These
men wonder why everybody else does
pOt Crat on oil rnuTfOD Uiaru of tba cbaa,,
industry, forgetting that their success
depends both upon the limit of mutton
production and the growing of the kind
of wool borne by their type of sheep.
Then comes another class, upon whom
rests the burden of producing the bulk
of the clothing material of the country,
who, no matter what they may get out
of mutton and lambs as an assistance,
must make wool production their main
stay. These in the nature of the case
much more numerous than any other
class, do not see why other men show a
comparative Indifference to the sheep
market for wool and the causes affecting
its strength and weakness. And other
divisions of those engaged in keeping
sheep might be made, growing out of
matters of location, shifting circIm-
stances, ETC., all of which cOmplicate
the views of those interested as to the
future of the business and the best
means for securing its prosperity.
Growing sheep is indeed complex
industry, and it is not strange that there
is something Of divergence of opin-
ions as to its needs arising out of such
complication. Indeed in looking at it
in one way it is almost wonder that
there is so much of unanimity as there
is among the flockmasters of the coun-
try in every matter coming up for con-
sideration. Like farmers organizations
of all kinds, societies of sheepmen seem
to be bound together by ropes of sand;
but in expression, and opinion, and ac-
tion, they come as nearly to standing
together as any other class of farmers in
the country. They would do better,
though, just as every other class of
stockmen would no better, if there were
a mora perfect understanding among
them.
To pay in the highest degree as bus
mess, the sheep industry must contem-
plate making the most possible out of
all of the different products mentioned
above. If one man is so situated that
one branch can be developed to more ad-
vantage than another, let him make
that most prominent; but his returns
will be still greater if the others are at
the same time looked after in a bust
ness-like manner. With conditions such
as they are in the United States this
means that sheep-raising can on this
plan be ordinarily made safe business,
and in the hands of many men a profit
able one. And there is no other way
which gives a positive assurance that
sheep will pay.