Evening journal., 1914-08-12
Three Representative RanbOuIlleto Fronoh MorInosI

Three Representative Rant
gpnepared BY tho United states Depart
ment Of Agricuiture,)
All the domestic sheep IN America
Asvc originated from importationa,
lnost OF which have been made from
European countries since the begin.
ming Of the nineteenth century. The
ane woois are found upon the western
ranges and TO q lesser extent through
she Ohio fine-wool region. They are
undergoing some changes 10 improve
the CARCASS and Increase the length OF
wool; some foreign blood Is being
used 20 DO Il; nevertheless these sec
ttons may atill be regarded as being
iGno wool IN character.
In Tennessee, Virginia and Ken.
tucky, the spring lamb region Of Amer
tca, 6outhdown rams are very popu.
Jar Through the central farming SEQ
tsons OF the country the medium-wool
breeds have taken possession, the long
woosa largely being IN locations more
favorable to them In the North and
Northwest, notably Canada, Utah,
idaho, Montana and Oregon.
II 10 not always possible to say that
there is one best breed for any sec
tion. There may be two or three that
would do equally as we'll, but II is
undeniable that some breeds are far
more suitable than others for q given
location. All the breeds have their
good qualities and most OF them, II
properly handled, will give good re-
suits IN some section OF America. The
srFoblem Is to get the ones best adapt
ed to particular conditions. Some
breeds have a larger number Of high
class individuals than others, but a
truly successful breeder can improve
any OF them.
Il As a rule, but ono breed should be
selected Where there is more than
Nne breed upon farm II is q dificult
matter to keep the gates all closed at
4he proper time and prevent crossing.
II several farms are available more
breeds can be handled, but the diff
cuit.es sn management are much in
creased. The most successful sheep
breeders in America handle but one
breed The fact that there are more
Breeds than IN any other class Of farm
muimals may In itself make the seiec-
4son OF one breed rather diflcult.
Some OF the deciding factors should
be climatic conditions, feeds available,
altitude. the particular line OF the in
dustry 10 be followed, and popularity
nf the breed IN the section In which
the farmer is located.
The effect OF climate is strlkingIy
illustrated In the evolution OF the
sheep industry OF the extreme North
west. The Willamette Valley fin Ore
gon, now so famous for It's long wools,
was once partly occupied By fine
wool sheep, The large amount OF rain
fall, which comes IN long-continued
dIixzle, caused the hay and weed
seeds that became lodged in the wool
20 grow and become green upon tho
Sleeps back. The Merino breeds were
decidedly out OF place there, After a
time the Lincoln and other long-wool
breeds we're introduced and the IN
6ustry assumed a different aspect.
Their long locks act as a thatch, car,
rying the water of, and these breeds
thrive as they do in few places ex-
cept their native counties In England.
The kind OF feed produced is OF i'm.
portanoe. The large breeds have been
veloped upon land that has produced
abundantiy, They are capable of TAX
ing care OF larger amount OF feed,
such as the moist fertile lowlands pro-
duce, while the smaller breeds succeed
better upon the less abundant fare OF
dTier and less fertile pastures, There
is evidently scne connection between
the general hi 81 quality of the smaller
breeds and INC scanty. more nutritious
feeds that they receive under natural
conditions. If they are removed to
the lowlands they lose much OF thsir
CHARACTERISTIC type and quality.
The effect of altitude upon a breed
is also apparent. but how much Of this
effect Is due to the amounts and kinds
OF feed it is difficult to determine. Ger
tain it is that the mountain breeds
are smaller. more active, more hardy
and better able to care for themselves
than their lowland neighbors.
The Importance Of hardness in the
mountain breeds was shown durina
the last century along the Scottish
border. The Cheviet had for a nun
pef Of years been displacing the black
faced Highland breed because Of iti
Amer quality Of wool and semewha
better carcass. A number Of sever
winters worked hayec ameng tb
Aocks OF the former breed bV eaus
ing very heavy lamb loss, and Ia
Highland breed. because Of It's hard
Dese, came back into It's own.
Wbether the breeder expects to sss