The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-10-23
Largo Pastures Not Necessary.

stock show Of 1902.
Large Pastures Not Necessary.
Hundreds of farmers fail to keep
sheep because they have not enough
land. This. idea that large pastures
are necessary to successful growing of
sheep is erroneous and also injurious,
says Farm and Ranch. Few will deny
that even a small flock Of sheep is prof
liable if well kept and properly util-
lied. One hundred head may be con-
sidered a small flock, but large enough
for most farmers. Fifteen or twenty
acres. properly divided and the divi
sions planted with plants that give a
succession of grazing, together with a
little grain feed raised on other acres,
may be made as profitable as if they
had 500 acres to roam over. Thus kept
at home and under a good fence they
are exempt from most attacks Of car
nivorous animals, such as dogs and
wolves, which eat up much of the prof
it's from sheep having unlimited range.
Sheep Feeding.
The Kansas City DrOvers' Telegram
says that in spite of the lack of any
definite ideas regarding what the win
ter will bring forth for the sheep feed
ers the small farmers are taking hold
of the feeders with uncommon readi
ness. They have jumped into compe-
tition with the packers and reduced
the margin between fat western and
feeders to the smallest figures known
in years, and scarcely a day elapses
but that they outbid the killers for
whole car loads of sheep. The margin
between fat and thin muttons is now
not over 10 to 25 cents, and choice
breeding ewes are outsellfng the fat
grades 10 to Is cents. The other day
in Chicago feeder buyers gave $40 for
thin lambs, a better price than the
packers gave that day for top western.
Sheep In Alaska.
Professor GeOrgesOn of the Sitka sta
ton thinks the time is coming, and
soon, when Alaska will have large
focks of sheep of her own. He says:
1.-THE Alaska Commercial company has
for years raised sheep and cattle near
Kadiak and near Unalaska without
feeding them a thing in the winter.
The sheep have increased at the rate of
about 60 per cent annually, and the
flock shears about five. pounds of wool
annually per head. This has been done
for the past sixteen years. There can
be no question but that it can be re-
peated on scores of the islands in that
region. There is but little timber or
underground there, and practically the
entire country is covered with heavy
growth Of nutritious grasses
Flock Scraps.
Sheep without shade should cause
prosecutions by the humane society.
Western ranchmen have purchased
rams quite freely from Ohio fiocks this
year.
A little extra feed will often pull the
lambs through trying time.
An old blue grass pasture is about
the best place for breeding ewes.
Remember that sheep must have wa
ter. Do not make the mistake Of think
ing that they can do without it.
The range breeders are taking good
sized, smooth MerinO rams of the de
laine type or having only few wrin-
kles.
The compulsory dipping order is
making trouble in Wyoming, especially
among fiocks that have no trace Of
scab.
In the year ended July 1 Australian
e,!,,~-> lwinG'@,7 - numbers fri -.
000.t130 to 33,G';0.u00 and wool exports
froIa 1867 3G bales to 9SSS77 bales.
Oats should be the main feed of the
ram during the breeding season. Won't
hurt .theaewes any. either If they need
grain Of any sort.