Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-26

dairy cows and increasing the num-
Der of sheep.
This was the assertion made yes
sheep specialist, Department of Ag-
riculture. He says that no one can
doubt that this will be step in the
right direction for profitable sheep
industry was never so good as at
present, with an increasing demand
for fabrics made from pure virgin
wool, and no indication that the pro-
duction will equal the demand for
several years, if ever.
'In the United States large tracts
of grazing lands are coming under
the pillow. annually decreasing the
number of large flocks that number
into the thousands and making it
both wise and necessary for eastern
farms to fill the gap" continued Mr..
Crawford.
"The normal consumption Of wool
goods is II pounds per capita with
the present production of only four
pounds per capita, leaving eight
pounds to be produced from old rags
taken from ragbass, city dumps and
clippings from manufacturing plants.
No one can seriously object to the
use of rev orked wool or shoddy until
such time as wool production equals
the needs Of the people.
However, it would be another act
Of honesty and justice to both pro-
ducefs and consumers to have the
Pure Fabrics bin, known as the
French Capper bill, enacted into law
which would compel manufacturers
to brand their products according to
the amount of virgin wool and per-
centage of shoddy each yard or gar
ment contains, then the proud sons
and daughters of the United States
when out on dress parade would be
conscious of the amount of re-
worked shoddy or old clothing worn
once more times by their ancestors,
was contained in their present finery.
indications are that period of
readjustment by the farmers has
arrived and at least some of the sur
plus milk which has been handled at
Il loss to the producer would be re-
moved by reduction in the number
of cows on the farms, and the pres
ent shortage in wool production
would be somewhat relieved by the
replacement of the same with sheep.
which should be done on the basis of
an animal unit of seven sheep per
COW.
Poor fences is the most common
cause given for not keeping sheep
and more sheep. This excuse, how
ever, is without foundation as sheep
like nearly all other animals seldom
get over any reasonable fence unless
because of lack of food or water and
often times both. A fence three feet
high and placed within six or eight
inches of the ground is sufficient
when food and water are plenty.
Another big advantage is that
every mcuthful of feed necessary for
high production in sheep can easily
be grown on every farm. There is
no worry about getting the products
to the station or creamery daily as
all wool and lambs can be delivered
in two trips a year when the buyer
doesn't come to your farm for it.
During the summer months when
crops have to be planted, hoed,
cned crops harvested, the sheep are
away in the pasture caring for them
selves growing lambs and wool for
next season, no care to anyone.
Just compare these conditions
with sitting twice day under the
cows milking, with the sweat rolling
down into the eyes and an occasion
al switch of old brindle's tail square
in the face with all the attendant
soothing qualities that go with 1t.
According to the latest reports on
the milk situation it is useless for
farmers living long distances from
consuming centers to even expect
satisfactory returns in producing
milk commercially and the sooner
they begin to adjust their farm man
agement to existing conditions the
quicker they will get back to normal
prosperity.
More and better sheep for Maine
FARMS must be the slogan from
now on.
Think this over carefully and next
week L will give figures that were
actually and carefully kept with a
flock Of So sheep and lambs which
will convince every farmer that
sheep when carefully selected, fed
and cared for have for a number of
years paid satisfactory returns for
the time and money invested"