Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-09-08
WHY SOME FAIL
WITH SHEEP


In every walk OF life we note people
crOwniing their efforts with marked
success. while only few steps away
a neighbor, apparently exerting as
much mental and physical effort. is
gradually slipping down the incline
that leads 10 partial or total failure.
There are people-SOme | personally
know who believe that Il is the plan
Of the Creator that some men should
walk easily and uninterrupted to the
goal OF success, that they may afford
examples for those who are less for
tunate, says writer in the New York
Tribune Farmer. l do not pretend to
know how the Creator has planned
the development OF the industrial
world. Possibly some people are born,
ike Moses OF ancient times, to achieve
honor and marked success. | am in
clined to look upon the situation from
the point of view OF the old adage,
God helps the man who helps him
self However, we are all ready to
cOncede that there are people born
with more natural ability than others
along certain lines, and who with
equal efforts achieve greater success.
On the other hand we observe the
achievements of those who are not
gifted with any marked talent. but
who set out with a well developed de-
termination who perfistently labor
against great odds and ultimately
reach success.
What we find in one line OF indust-
rial activity, we also find i'm other
lines. Sheep husbandry il no excep-
ton to the rule. On every hand we
observe instances where men are
achieving success in handling sheep,
building up fine flocks, utilizing them
10 restore and improve the fertility OF
their farms and causing them to re-
turn handsome profit. In the same
community we find other instances
where sheep raising is followed pos
sibly on an adjoining farm, yet with
the opposite results. What is the cause
Of the difference? you may ask. Is it
fact that the first man mentioned
was born shepherd, and therefore
be has been more successful with
sheep than his neighbor? No, | am
inclined to think not. In many years
OF study of sheep raising on the farm,
and the methods employed by flock
owners. | am inclined to conclude the
reason why some fail is that they do
not learn how TO handle sheep. An in
stance has baan upJor my, ,Igo,.-oti,p
for the last three years. One of my
neighhors bought few sheep to lay
the foundation OF flock. | knew the
sheep he bought, as they had been
pasturing in another neighbours field
adjoining my farm.
The first neighbor after buying the
sheep took them home and during the
winter gave them the run OF large
field that in one corner had been an
old shed that had been used for several
years for storing machinery. 1t had
an open front, exposed to the west.
All the sheep had for pro;e,tio the
first winter was this shed and a rail
fence. However TO my surprise. the
sheep came through the winter better
than could have been expected and
dropped a nice lot of lambs. The last
season this noighbOr has been letting
his sheep run az will, and whenever
they stray from home he goes after
them on horseback and brings them
back on "a run a day or two ago he
Informed me that he was going out OF
the sheep business this fail as the
sheep do not pay
Instances similar TO the above are
common i'm every community: this Is
a good illustration OF how some farm
erS attempt profitable sheep raising
The high price of flock products not
infrcqucntly stimulates farmers who
have been following some other meth
cd OF farming 10 go into sheep raising
without first considering whether or
not they are adapted to the business.
TO go into sheep raising simply on the
strength of favorable market condi-
lions ia placing one ON the direct road
TO practical failure I have yet to find
The man who is raising sheep simply
rom the standpoint of "a financial pro-
position who has made Il marked sue
cess The sheep business requires more
than the mere investment of "a few
dollars
II demands persistent study and
| thoughtful taking management
20 make the business success The
farmer who goes into sheep. thinking
that they will look after themselves
during the larger uorion of Ihe wear.