Graham guardian., 1903-09-04
ii EER,saaSgssSE


Sheep shearing in New Mexico, like
most things in the southwest, Is done
on large scale. To see focks of from
$4,000 to $4,000 sheep assembled to be
robbed Of their fleecy covering is an
interesting spectacle, They have been
brought in from the range to some
central point near the railroads and
whsce grass ard water are plenty and
turned over TO the adopts In their call.
ing. With fiocks so large as these the
whole country for a mile or more
around seems covered with sheep.
Those awaiting their turn under the
shears are feeding under care Of the
shepherds and their watchful dogs,
while Immediately around the scene
of operations are thousands more,
some still wearing their natural fleece,
others shorn and looking scraggy and
shambling, their hides marked here
and there with the bloody gashes
wrought by the sharp shears, often too
carelessly used for the poor animals
comfort There are two shearlngs an.
nually here, in May and October, the
first being the heavier clip, and while
they are on the sheep men are busy,
and the shearers reap a harvest OF
gain.
The shearers, as has been said, are
mainly Mexicans-that Is, New Mexi-
cans-but the lines are sharply drawn
here ard no one thinks OF calling them
Americans, short, swarthy fellows, as
dark as Indians. They so in gangs of
from twenty to sixty under leader or
boss whom they call captain" The
contract for shearing is taken at from
to cents per head for the whole
flock. 1t is really wonderful to see the
swiftness with which the work ls done.
The struggling sheep is scarcely down
before the shears are ut work, gliding
along its frame and rapidly clicking
off the fleece. Many are the cruel hicks
and gashes inflicted, and when the
shorn sheep gets it's feet again and
runs off in bewildered sort of way
sticking plaster seems TO be Its most
immediate need. An average shearer
will thus denude from seventy-fve TO
eighty sheep q day, and there are
many who will shear 100 and over. In
the early part of the season the weth-
ers are shOrn, as it is the lambing time
for ewes, and they come to the shear
ers later.
PIeaseh the RRnchmen.
The announcement of the interior de-
partment that 10000 head of sheep and
1900 head of horses and cattle will be
permitted to Craze on the Medicine
Bow forest reserve this summer was
received with relief by the ranchmen
whose places lie within or adjacent to
the reserve. The reserve has been In
past years the summer ranging ground
OF several large sheep outfits and small
ranchmen feared thai the creation of
the reserve would cause these outfits
to invade unfenced and leased land
with their focks. Permission TO Craze
on the reserve will make such step
unnecessary.
clover For sheep.
Professor Join A. Craig. in writing
Oh the value of clover for sheep, says:
THE clover crop seems to be Of such
supreme value for sheep that it might
be said to be a necessary adjunct Of the
successful sheep farm. Ii is msny
sided in value, being excellent for
growing lambs, splendid for nourish-
ing ewes and also high In rank for fat
teping in the feed lots, At some stage
of the sleeps life clover feeding seems
absolutely necessary TO attain the best
results. In addition TO being very
wholesome food, it Is remarkable that
sheep should be so ravenous for every
part of it--stem, leaf and blossom"
Feeding Lambs.
There should always be a difference
in the feed of lambs intended for mar.
ket and those selected to be kept In the
breeding flock. says Wool Markets and
Sheep. With the former corn Is the
best grain, especially If mixed with q
few oats. while with the latter oats J
and some succulent food, such as root, |
or ensilage, will keep them growing |
and in as good flesh as is best for
breeding stock. Ne do not think corn
or corn meal desirable for them. gs il |
fattens quickly, stops growth ard is
very likely TO Interfere with their freed |
Ing qualities if fed to excess.
A Prize Cotswoid,