The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 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, 1t may be added, should
be impressive. resolute and Of noble bearing
distinctly the head Of the flock In every sense OF
the word This requires Of course, good consti-
tutional and vital powers.
It has likewise come to be regarded as essen
tial as above pointed out, that mutton sheep
should have good fleece as well as a good
carcass This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable and it Is no longer re-
garded necessary to grow one sheep for fleece.
another for carcass and another for a lamb An
intelligent, up-to-date fockmaster combines them
all in one class. Some of the best mutton sheen
are producing profitable fieeces as those kept
exclusively for wool and their lambs are decidedly
superior AS Is we'll known, one Of the first es-
sentials 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 It 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 far-sighted sheep raiser is also coming to
guard against neglect or undue exposure Of his
mock. periods of sickness or 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
hber and dneness, whereas. length and strength
OF hber are essential qualities in 4 good fleece
Wellfed sheep always produce the best wool ana
the greatest quantity OF It, and expert opinion Il
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
ana wrinkles or folds Of the skin about the neck
or other parts OF the body detrimental mas
much as the wool that grows within these folds
Is unlike other parts Of the fleece and there is \
consequent lack of uniformity
The proper feeding Of sheep is one Of the char
responsibilities connected with the industry N
some localities the "self-feeder" is extensively
employed, but In other localities 1t Is not in mncb
FAVOR Properly cured alfalfa has come I'M won
derfully In popularity as food for sheen and
many sheep feeders have purchased extensive
areas OF alfalfa for use In this connection MANY
OF the large feeders IN such states as Nebraska
COLORADO and Minnesota have no shelter for their
nocks but 1t Is generally conceded now that nrou
eriy 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
Ieeding three times day. although others still
CHING TO the old idea that it is not necessary to
iced more than twice day. Along with all these
otner requisites for In sheep raising there
Is the necessity for the good shepherd of iudg-
ment ana experience. Even on the range whera
sheep are supposed to be able to shift for them
selves there is tendency to employ bettar
class of men as sheep herders