The citizen., 1911-09-29

difficulty in mutton production has always been
the scarcity of stock sheep. particularly sires.
having sufficient merit to fill the standard OF ex-
cellence. The ideal SIRE it may be added should
be impressive. resoute and Of noble bearing
distinctly the head of the flock In every sense OF
the word. This requires, of course, good consu
tutional and vital powers
1t has likewise come to be regarded as essen
tial. as above pointed out that mutton sheep
should have a good fleece as we'll as a good
This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable, and 1t Is no longer re-
garded necessary to grow sheep for fleece
another for carcass and another for lamb. An
intelligent up-todate fockmaster combines them
all in one cass. Some of the best mutton sheep
are producing profitable ieeces as those kept
exclusively for wool and their lambs are decidedly
superior AS is well known one of the first es.
sentals in good fleece is compactness or den
sity. this quality not only insuring better yield
of WOOL but also affording better protection
against storm This indicates harder animal
and one better able to withstand exposure 1t Is
desirable to have close even, dense fleece with
no breaks cover all parts of the body including
the head, limbs and under parts and the tendency
In latter day breeding is toward carrying the
fleece more completely over the head face limbs
and under parts.
The farsighted sheep raiser is also coming to
guard against neglect undue exposure of his
nock periods of sickness, indeed anything that
Will impair the vitality Of the animals for II has
come to be pretty well understood that such in.
nuences diminish both the length and strength of
hoer and hneness whereas, length and strength
of fiber are essential qualities in good fleece.
Weli-fed sheep always produce the best wool and
the greatest quantity Of it. and expert opinion is
to the effect that fleece almost invariably begins
TO decline In value after sheep has passed the
age OF four years. The best grade of wool ia
invariably found on the rear part of the shoulder.
and wrinkles or folds Of the skin about the neck
or other parts of the body are detrimental mas.
much as the wool that grows within these folds
Is unlike other parts Of the fleece and there is a
consequent lack of uniformity
The proper feeding of sheep is one of the chief
responsibilities connected with the industry In
some localities the "selffeeder' is extensively
employed but In other localities 1t is not in much
FAVOR Properly cured alfalfa has come up won.
derfully In popularity a food for sheep and
many sheep feeders have purchased extensive
areas OF alfalfa for in this connection Manv
OF the large feeders In such states as Nebraska
colorado and Minnesota have shelter for their
nocks, but 1t Is generally conceded now that prop
erly constructed sheds are an advantage al
though OF course involving considerable outlay in
the case OF large feeding yards Some of the
most progressive sheep men now recommend
feeding three times a day. although others still
CHING to the old idea that it is not necessary tn
Iced more than twice day Along with all these
otner requisites for in sheep raising there
is the necessity for the good shepherd of ude
ment and experience. Even on the range where
sheep are supposed to be able to shift for them
selves there Is tendency to employ better
class of men sheep herders