The Little River news., 1918-01-02
ARKANSAS SHOULD
 HAVE NOPE SHEEP
During 1916 the United States Raised Only 35 Per Cent of Wool
 She Used.

Arkansas should have more sheep. Tie need of raising more sheep is ap- parent from the fact that in 1916 the United States raised only 35 per cent of the wool she used. There has been Q very large increase in the demand for mutton to feed the millions of men who are now on the European for more sheep, the number of sheep has decreased in the United States, due to the opening up of Government land in the West for settlement and the losses in sheep upon the ranges through disease.
 Although there have not been many sheep raised in this state, we know that Arkansas has number of ad- vantages for sheep production. We have a very mild climate and for this reason can produce grass almost the year through. We also have a large acreage of high, we'll drained cheap land in North Arkansas which fur nishes favorable conditions for the keeping of large focks of sheep at a comparatively low cost. Arkansas men who have gone into the sheep business and followed it in an intelli- gent manner find that they are very profitable investment.
 First: They pick up great deal of waste about the farm that other farm animals cannot utilize.
 Second: They clean up the weeds and cause grasses to grow where weed ..atchcs were before.
 Third: Sheep furnish quick returns. Ewes can be bred in the fall and their lambs marketed eight or ten months thereafter
 Fourth Profits arc large-it is usually considered that the wool will pay for the keep of the ewes and the lambs come as clear profit.
 Fifth: Sheep are good soil builders. sheep manure being the richest ma. nure produced by any farm animal.
 Sixth: They require little e-pen- sive feed.
 Seventh: Money from sheep comes in in the spring at a time of the year when few other products are being put upon the market.
 While the prospects for sheep grow ing look very good, the Extension Di- yisiC.l does not want to encourage anyone to take up this line of livestock industry unless they have had pre- vious experience or have an honest desire to study and learn the nature and the requirements of sheep. With cut love for sheep and a knowledge of the industry, little success can be expected.
 One Of the main essentials in grow ing this class of animals is good pas ture. Permanent pasture should Do established with orchard grass or Bermuda gras1 as basis. Tn the northern section of the state orchard grass is better adapted to the soil and climate In the central and southern portion. Bermuda thrives best. With Bermu- da grass can also be mixed lespede1a which makes it's renkest growth dur ing the hot summer months, bur clov- CT which thrives during the winter and white clover which begins it's growth early in tho spring. Besides a permanent pasture temporary pas turc should also be provided.
 Size of Flocks: It is the opinion of the most competent authorities that sheep can be handled in the most eco nonsical way with not less than fifty or sixty ewes as unit. The advan- tage coming from this large number is that it does not cost much more to fence, shelter and care for fifty or sixty ewes than it would a smaller number, and for this reason when the | large numbers are handled tho cost per eve is much less than when only | few are carried in the flock. While | it is true that experienced men can | handle most adyantageously sheep in 1 the number suggested, with the be- ginner it is no doubt best for him to start with eight or ten ewes and gradually increase his flock.
 Kind of Sheep: It is not well for the beginner to start with pure breds, but he should begin with good grades. Perhaps the best place to secure these grades is from the Stock Yards Mar. hets through some reliable commis- sion firm. The majority of the ewes | upon the markets come from the western ranges and are for the most part of the Merino breed These ewes, | however, can be bred uD quickly by using rams of the breed preferred | The lambs from Merino ewes and nut 1 ton rams make rapid growth and sell well when placed on the market | When giving an order for this stock it is well to write the commission 1 man the breed of sheep which you pre- fer and caution him not to buy ewes l that t~are too old. Quite number ol the stock coming from the Western ranges are old ewes that have broken mouths and cannot for this reason graze to the best adyantages
 Those who lave purchased sheep and care to have information upon the care of them can secure this in-