Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-28
Possibilities In Sheep.

Whether or not the possibilities IL
sheep raising are ever realized in New
England again will depend upon the ad
vantage taken of the conditions that ex
ist now, and are likely to exist for some
years to come, as a result Of the wal
now dragging Its slow length In Europe
As has been pointed out before, the
fleece of many thousand sheep Is requir
ed to supply the demand for wool te
make into uniforms to be destroyed
Probably the stored supply is exhausted
By this time, and this means that what
ever is required in the near future must
be produced as It is needed.
And herein lies the New England farm
er's opportunity, not, perhaps. for any
great fortune, but an addition to the
present income from the farm which
will help materially on the profit side, In
the sales, and will improve the farm by
increasing it's fertility through the addi-
tional fertilizer.
The writer remembers when his father
New England farmer, had his pastures
filled with flocks. When he carried his
wool to market in the neighboring vii
lage. piled high on the wagon like huge
load of hay, aud how plethoric the leath'
or pocketbook, now in bis own posses
sion, looked when the buyer paid for 1t;
no checks, real money, greenbacks, gold
and shin plasters.
Then came the great sheep ranches OF
the west, where on free land hundreds
of thousands grazed, and fleeces, produc-
ed at relatively small expense, went to
furnish the great mills with raw materi-
al.
The next chapter was the beginning of
the industry in Australia. New Eng.
land farmers, particularly those in Yer
mont, sent their best breeding rams and
ewes to Australia, some of them for
thousands of dollars. But even though
the present profits seemed large, they
were really helping to throttle their own
profitable industry.
Now, conditions have changed. The
west has no more free land upon which
the flocks can Craze. The product of
the Australian ranges is too little to sat
isfy English requirements. At recent
wool auctions in London, prices have
advanced beyond what they have been
in years. And in general this condition
will prevail for long time to come.
Meantime, wherewith shall the world
be clothed? And the answer is found in
the fleece of flocks which should even
now be scattered far over the hills of the
New England States. Some farmers
have caught the vision and are preparing
to secure as much Of this advantage as
may come to them. They have seen,
have understood, and are even now
profiting by this newly gained knowl-
edge of quite unforeseen condition.
Others may do so, but they must first
appreciate the opportunity before them
and then make practical application of
their information.
Old agricultural processes are passing,
and in their places are coming new meth
DDS and fresh ideals. Many have caught
the inspiration Of the vision of a larger
day, and are even now demonstrating
their value. In the return to world pro-
duction is another opportunity, now but
partially understood, yet fraught With
consequences scarcely to be measured.
And the time to begin is now. When
others are scoffing or dreaming, the
practical man will apply his knowledge
of the present situation and in the years
to come will profit proportionately for
his foresight.-Burton Il. Allbee, in
Maine Farmer.