Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-28


pound, or Sc, 185, 100, showing loss in
values to the state of 81 ,2O5, $50, equal
to more than IL per cent on the total
value of all the flocks.
According to the estimates of rail-
road officers the total amount of wool
transported in 1902 amounted to 49,
$50, 296 pounds. There was little wool
held over from the years 1901 and 1902.
Changes in Method Impending.
AS to the general conditions prevail
ing in the sheep-raising business opin-
ions vary among the growers, but there
seems to be a prevailing sentiment that
marked change in methods is impend-
ing. The causes which will operate
in this direction are chiefly the advance
in the cost of plant through the rise in
the price of land, and the curtailment
of available range areas necessitating
the labor and expense of erecting miles
of fence, which could only be done on
land that was under private owner
ship. Notwithstanding these so-ca1led
drawbacks, the business has been sat-
isfactory in the main, even the adverse
conditions resulting in permanent in
vestments and improvements and limit
ing to great extent the drifting of
nomadic bands from other states
brought here for grazing. The vast
quantity, as we'll as the grade of the
Montana wool crop, makes it compul-
sorry upon the buyers to handle it and
with the changesin methods which are
being brought about through natural
causes, Montana stockmen will remain
in the vanguard of a permanent and
successful business. The disasters
which have overtaken the flockmasters
in New Zealand and which operated
to such material benefit to American
woolgrowers, cannot be recovered from
in many years. The removal from the
markets of the world of Austra1iasian
woods has had wonderful effect upon
the WOODEN industry, forcing the manu-
tacturers into the use of substitutes to
so great an extent as to create a de-
mand for relief through national legis-
lation, and wise action upon this sub
ject will doubtless have a powerful
effect upon the future of the sheep in
dustry.
Experiments in Feeding.
Exigencies arising from purely nat
ural causes as we'll as an honest effort
to improve herds and the general con-
ditions obtaining in sheep husbandry,
have, in recent years, led to extensive
and experiments in sheep
feeding. 1t having become necessary
that change from old-time methods |
be made, the problem presented was,
in what direction must the sheep
grower turn to protect his investment
and secure the best returns? Montana
possessing the most remuner-
alive and accessible ranges, it was
useless TO look for new territory out
side the state. The alternatives were
o go out of the business or make the |
necessary alterations at home. Nat
rally the attention of growers was
urned to feeding, that is, producing
he forage and grains necessary for
growing and fattening from cultivated
crops instead of depending entirely
upon the ranges and the native grasses
cured by nature. The results of these
which cover a number of
years, are instructive and valuable,
and seem to point unerringly the direc-
ION III which the future of this great
industry lies. Hundreds of thousands
Of sheep were fed during the winter
With unvarying success and, of the
osses noted from storms and exposure,
which were considerable, none were
recorded among the bands so provided
or,
This is the Busy Season.
This is the busy season for the Mon
ana sheepgrower. He is right in the
midst OF lambing and from early morn
until late at night he must be on the
move and watch if he wants to have a
good increase. 1t Is not only his busy
season. but it is also his most expen-
'ive one. His t1ocks are divided up
INTO small bands, just large enough for
'ne man to look after, and this means
An Increase in the number IF e,nnlor.S |
ana other additional expenses. If he
IS lucky he will have but few wet ana
cold DAYS. and in a month ho u.il 10 |