The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-08-28
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
THE GREAT SHEEP INDUSTRY
ANDITS PROSPECTS.
The American Merino is the Finest
Sheep-A Plea For the Blind
HOrse-Dwarf Bees-Farm
and Household Hints.
Wealth in nIerino Sheep.

Wealth in MerinO Sheep.
In the sheep industry of the United
States, varied and checkered as it has
been. owing to political troubles, biz
yards and ignorance, the Merino sheep
has figured more prominently than
any other breed, and while trouble
and drawbacks have beset the farmers.
these fine type of animals have been
steadily adding millions of dollars to
the national wealth of the farm. The
American Merino has become so close
~ identified with the country that it
is almost the national animal and it's
praises are heard wherever sheep rails
ing has been carried on with any in
telligence. There are other breeds of
sheep which possess many noble
qualities in far greater degree than
the Merino, better wool producers,
better mutton makers, better mothers
and nurses of young lambs, but no.
where has the breed yet been dlscov-
cred that answers all the purposes re-
quired for a typical American sheep
that will thrive in wide ranges of
country. and in climates so varied and
changeable as to make life a constant
battle against the elements, so we'll as
the American Merino.
The sheep industry in this country,
as whole, teaches wholesome les
son. It reflects the uncertainty and
unreasonable vicissitudes of American
life in its early stages. 1t has been
doomed and inflated to such an ex-
tent as to make it ridiculous and it
has also reached the other extreme,
the lowest stage of depression. At
one time sheep-raising seemed to
promise fortunes for all, and then it
was pronounced dead failure. 1t is
wonder that through such vicissi-
tudes even one fine breed of sheep
could be evolved and developed up to
the standard which the American
Merino can safely lay claim to to day.
The original Merino sheep imported to
this country from Spain is as far in
ferior to- day to the American Merino
as mongrel cur of the Indians is to a
full-blooded mastiff of registered
breed. And this development and i'm
provement has been accomplished by
the intelligence of few fockmasters
in the face of great opposition and
Encouragement. Probably no other
breed of sheep could pass through
what the Merino breed has, and not
lose its high qualities and depreciate
in value. Worried by dogs, neglected
often, killed off for mutton after the
price of wool fell, and in a thousand
other ways retarded in its full develop
ment the breed has succeeded through
all in maintaining it's purity Of breed
and in advancing in excellence.
We find to-day the American Merino
stands foremost among sheep for it's
fine wool, writes E. P. Smith in the
American Cultivator, and in new
countries especially it is in great de-
mand. Whenever crossed with
other breeds it always improves the
quality of the wool, and Australia
aockmasters eagerly seek for such a
cross to the countless focks. A we'll
bred American Merino is tall, noble
looking animal, inheriting superior
qualities from a line of ancestors, and
possesses such hardy qualities that it
can readily adapt itself to great ex-
tremes of climate. It is scarcely ne
cessary to say that the majority of the
sheep flocks in the country are COM
posed of this breed. and in localities
where the special breed has not yet
been found the American Merino does
better than any other. There are
other breeds that would probably do
better in certain peculiar sections of
the land, but until experiment has
shown what breeds to use the Ameri-
can Merino must do.
The American Merino has proved
such a fine animal to the farmers that
everything possible should be done in
return. The breed has not yet reached
its highest perfection, and there is
ample room for making the animals
more valuable. The breed has reach
ed It's present type through uncertain
treatment and with good, careful, in
telligent devotion it may be brought
to much higher type. The effort is
well worth the trial. A uniform pub
lie policy toward sheep husbandry is
needed. and then wise, intelligent
study from the farmers. Evils to the
industry must be removed. and sudden
mutations and depressions should be
guarded against. They never benefit
any business: it is the even, steady