Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-01-10
IMPROVEMENT IN
SHEEP INDUSTRY
Gradual and Logical Movement
in Industry Toward More
and Better FIocks.
INCREASE MUTTON AND WOOL
Farmers Are Beginning to Realize
That Dual Purpose Animals Fit
Admirably Into System of
Mixed Farming.

There has been a gradual and logical
movement in the sheep industry to-
ward more and better flOcks on the
farms of the Central and Eastern
states. That the farm states are des-
tined to become the seat of the great
sheep industry and the farm flock a
more important part in permanent
agriculture, is the opinion of special
lists of the United States department
of agriculture who have been in close
touch with the situation. While the
number and size of the flocks in most
of the range states are declining, there
is distinct trend toward the produc-
ton of more wool and mutton in the
states where more intensive farming
is practiced, they say.
Taking the entire country as
whole, the sheep industry is on the in
crease. In 1917 there was a net in
crease of per cent in the United
States over 1916, according to reports
of the bureau of crop estimates of the
United States department of agricul-
ture, while the July 1, 1918, estimates
show 1927 per cent increase over the
same date of the previous year. Fur
Their proof that the sheep industry has
gathered impetus is shown by the rec
ord of wool production, estimates for
1918 showing 257,921 900 pounds, as
against 240 ,573OOO pounds in 1917.
Reason for Farm Trend.
The increase in the farm states and
the decrease in the range territory is
due partly to the fact that range lands
have increased in value and the con-
tinred demonstrating has broken up
the areas which were once in free
range. In the farm states also, the
wool type of sheep has given way to
the wool and mutton varieties, which
has been the principal factor in bring
ing about an increase. The decline in
the sheep industry on the Western
range should not be interpreted to
mean that the business in that section
is going to entirely disappear, for
there is every reason to believe that
the range country will always con
tinue as an important sheep-producing
#
states will not economically lend
themselves to any other grazing pur.
poses.
Sheep which yield both wool and
mutton are well adapted to more OF
less intensive farming. Farmers are
beginning to realize that sheep of this
kind fit admirably into a system OF
mixed farming, and with the meat anC
wOt. markets becoming more stabilized
there is little need to become con
cerned with the yearly market f1uctua
TORS of these two products. Sheep OF
farms should be assured larger place
as they can successfully share witt
other stock in the economical AM
profitable utilization of farm crops
as well as being producers of valuabl
clothing material for which there i
no complete substitute. Doubling on
wool production would not render u
independent of wool imports but woul
about meet the needs for military pun
poses and large part Of that needle
for civilian uses.
Mistake to Rush In,
One of the chief drawbacks at til
present time to a more rapid develol
ment of the industry in the farmin
states is the lack of knowledge {
good flock management. There is dal
ger in the tendency to rush into th
new line of farming, which increase
prices have brought about, where e.
per1ence is lacking. While there
nothing difficult about managing shee
1t must be remembered tat shee
breeding is essentially a long-ter
proposition and not a one-season cro
like wheat, corn or oats; and shou
o be entered into with this we'll in mir