Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-01-15
a oUtimistic Sheep Outlook.

That now 10 the time for our New
England farmers to go into the sheep In
dustry, was argued by w. d. Hurd
formerly of Massachusetts,, at the recen
sheep convention in Boston. He said
The consumption of mutton and
lamb has increased greatly during the
past 10 years. In the United States only
one farm in seven of more than 20 acres
has sheep. In 1910 We produced S21,
| OOO. 900 pounds of wool, and imported
lSO, ,OOO, 900. In 1915 our production has
decreased to 2SS, ,000, 900 pounds and oul
imports have risen to 449, ,000, 900 pounds.
We have In round numbers In this
country 4S,OOO,0O0 sheep. Doubling
this number would just about produce
the wool which We are now importing.
In 1890 the average price OF sheep per
head In this country was 81 81; 10 1900,
s2 9S: in 1910, a II, and in 1917, STA.
Sheep st the market centers are now
selling as high as SIS head.
The price of wool has risen according
Ily. Wool In 1890 sold at about 20 cents,
per pound, and in 1910 at about 80 cents,
while in 1917, the best grades of wool
have sold as high as IS cents for un-
washed clip at the farm. Choice comb
ed wool has brought s1.70 per pound In
the Boston market this season.
New England and the northeast are
admirably adapted to sheep raising. 10
the past this region was the center OF
the industry in this country. In lS4O,
go percent of the wool clip In the coun-
try came from New England and the
north Atlantic states. During recent
years the number of sheep has declined
rapidly. New England In 1880 bad
I ,S6S, 900 head In 1900 the numbers
had fallen to 56S,0 900 and in 1910 to
SO6 900 head. New York had over q
million and half sheep in lSSO-but in
1910 only 900, 600 head. Maine decreas
ed 40 per cent, Massachusetts, SS per
cent, Connecticut 80 per cent and the
other states in about the same proper
tions between the years 1900 1910. Yer
mont Merinos we're once world famous
good breeders selling at from $4,000 to
SIC, 900 each. With the exception, OF
Bradford, Eng, Boston 10 to-day the
greatest wool market in the world.
The most marked decline came when
the western ranges were opened up.
The conditions which caused eastern
breeders to 60 out of the sheep business
no longer exist.
The New England states and New
York have, not counting woodland, L.
800, 900 acres OF unimproved land.
Much of this is good for sheep pastur-
age. There are also hundreds of thou
sands of acres OF rough land and poor
pastures listed IS improved now pro-
ducing practically nothing, which will
50 pport thousands of sheep. These
states could easily take on and raise 10
times the sheep they are now keeping
Sheep make waste land productive.
They require a minimum amount OF
concentrated feeds. They are great
weed killers. They multiply. at rapid
rate. They do not require large
amount of labor-allowing for fuller
and better distribution Of labor through
ont the year on the farm.
Several things are needed to bring
sheep raising back to northeastern
farms: Farmers must be made to un-
dsrstand that conditions have changed
from what they we're 80 years ago. All
the meat and wool that We are likely to
produce is needed.
Educational work must be carried on
in the proper care OF sheep. Sheep will
not thrive without proper attention, but
they do not need az much care az other
stock. sheep must be made more
valuable In the minds OF the public than
dogs. Dogs kill more than 81, SOC, 900
worth Of sheep in this country every
year. A law controlling the stray and
worthless dog should be enacted and
then enforced.
Banks are usually willing to finance
the bringing In Of more live stock.
Farmers should ake advantage OF this
help. The United States department OF
agriculture is helping to build mp the
sheep industry IL states which should
aavs more sheep by employing, In CO.
operation with the state colleges, sheep
specialists who dsvots their time to this
industry, by encouraging boys and
girls sheep clubs and by assisting In
finding and transferring to regions
desiring them good sheep for breeding
and feeding purposes.