East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-06-17
NEWS OF FARM AND RANGE
CARELESS HERD|NG
CAUSED SHEEP LOSS
poison RIDGE" KNOWN TO
GROWERS SINCE EARLY
DAYS OF INDUSTRY.

- ~
IN the view OF sheepmen and others
familiar with the situation careless or
inexperienced herding was respon-
sible for the death of the 800 dead
sheep seen by Dean Shull and win
Lane on their return from the south.
ern part of the county. Beyond Pr
lot Rock on the road to Starkey Prai-
RE there is poison ridge that has
peen known as such to sheepmen al,
most since the sheep business started
In this county. 1t is about four miles
across this piece of territory and
sheep are usually not allowed to graze
while going across. They can be got
ten across in two hours time and
without injury. Apparently soma
herder has either been careless in
handling his sheep or was ignorant of
the location of the dangerous ground.
In the view of one well known sheen
man Messrs Lane and Shull were mis-
taken in the location of California
Gulch. He says the dead sheep were
FARTHER east than California Gulch.
In years gone by heavy losses OF
sheep nave been caused on this poison
ridge. 1t is noticeable that the danger
OCCURS in the spring when the grass
Is green. In the fall when the grass
Is dry sheep may pass over this dist
rict and eat without harm. This caus.
es the view that the harm is done nv
vegetable poison. Others however
believe it is mineral poison that
comes to the surface only in the
spring.
some years ago when the question
OF open roads across the reservation
was being pressed the sheepmen used
thls poison ridge as an argument WHY
sheep should not have to be driven
around the reservation to reach the
mountains.
In The Sheep Market-There Is con.
siderable activity in the Eastern Ore.
son sheep market and the prices con.
unue strong. Within the last weal
Mckay Bros. shipped 1000 yearlinps
from here to Seattle the sheen IN he
red in transit somewhere in central
Washlngton Five days ago Frye &
20. of Seattle shipped out 20 loads
Oh Two year old wethers from Henn.
ner 10 Seattle. w. E. Mudd of III.
,ehsourg recently shipped 1000 YEAR
rIhss from here to his home country
rlces at present are said to be rang.
ing as follows: Two year old wetb-
ers' $3.50; mixed yearlings. s25o.
seafiing wethers, s2.75 to SO: yearline
ewes $3.50. Yearlings ewes are NOT.
aoiy higher this year than last wear
ana SHOWS the demand on the part of
growers for breeding stuff.
ffuit by Parcels Post-F. r Thorn !
as strawberry grower of Ridgefie,d
wash. has shipped two crates oe
strawberries by parcel post to no-
iron on rural route of his office /
me crates contained As baskets Of
the fruit and weighed A pounds the
postage amounting to 81 cents. An !
other shipment of fruit was two hoy
es of cherries. consigned to Pocate!Io
ana American Falls, Idaho. The to- /,
TAI weight was 3S pounds, and the
postage amounted to S1.5S
May Change Homestead Act-The
house of representatives yesterday
passed Congressman sinnotts bill
amending the homestead law by pro- /
vlding that homesteaders may divide
their five months leave of absence
each year into two periods If they so !
elect, provided they reside on their
homestead seven months in each year. /
AS the law now stands the leave Of
absence must be taken during five
consecutive months. !,
rive Cows killed-A Mckay creek
farmer recently lost five head of cows
in a mysterious manner. They died
while eating grass and the farmer has
not been certain as to what was the
trouble.