Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-08-20
KEEP MORE SHEEP.
Are Better Than Cheap Cows as
Producers of Cash.

VI LASH.
c. H. Crawford, sheep specialist of
the State Department of Agriculture
in his report just submitted for the
two years ending June 80, 1924, de-
clares that More and better sheen
for Maine" is sound policy, deserv-
ing favorable consideration by thou
sands of farmers as a means of turn
ing loss into profit, eliminating to a
large degree the unsatisfactory labor
question, also the big question of
where the cash is coming from to
purchase the necessary foods, tools
and other supplies.
Sheep should replace thousands
OF w-producing, money-losing,
boarder cows continues Mr.. Craw-
fords. This would relieve high pro-
ducers and get for their owners much
nearer the cost of production than at
present. Sheep because their re-
quirements for grain and all other
foods can easily be supplied on all
farms, Will make those located a long
distance from the market more pro
fitable by eliminating the heavy over
mead IN transporting products and
supplies to and from the market,
leaving farmers free to do much
work now being done by hired help
Present economic conditions are
not the result of rapid overnight
changes but have been coming grad
ually for the past few years. While
some of the leading agr.culturists
have repeatedly given sufficient warn
ings, most farmers have contented
{ 1 10, al
/ present conditions would adjust
themselves as in the past, and have
made no attempt to prepare for con
dltiOns now existing.
In this period of adjustment. it is
neither desirable nor advisable to
completely eliminate any one branch
OF farming unless such is found to
/ be necessary because of location or
/ OF SOIL or climatic onditiOn-features
which in many instances have not re-
! ceIVed much consideration in the past
| and which have caused many dis
! appointments and money losses.
Balancing the farm program, ac-
] cording to the present conditions. to-
gether with location in regard to
! markets and the actual needs of con-
! sumers, is the only safe and sound
solution to the present difficulty.
Farmers who have little or no
knowledge of sheep husbandry
should begin with from ten to
twenty-five sheep, being especially
careful in selecting good, healthy
ewes, of breed that is pleasing to
the eye and possible of high produc-
ton in both wool and lambs. While
sheep require a relatively small
amount of care, yet the old idea that
they will thrive on weeds and waste
that no other animal will eat, is filed
with danger and is sure of loss when
I practiced
The present low production of
both lambs and wool is entirely need
less and anyone who is satisfied with
! the present average production of
six and one-half pounds of wool and
rs per cent. of lambs grown to ma
turity can never succeed. Production
of both wool and lambs can be in
creased substantially by more care
full selection of breeding ewes and
rams which possess the desired quail
ties.
Farmers who use purebred rams
are getting more satisfactory results
in both wool and lambs, and consid-
cradle time is used in encouraging
sheep men to purchase more of them.
Each year lists of those having
blooded rams to sell and those wish
ing to buy are kept and have proven
of great assistance to those who are
unable to leave their farms to pur
chase. Complete details are OBJ
tanned so that satisfactory descrip-
ton can be furnished purchasers, re-
sulting in many satisfactory sales.
This line of work is being enlarged
and is worthy of all the labor and eX
pense necessary.
las secretary of the Maine Sheep
and Wool Growers Association it
gives me much pleasure to report
steady, healthy growth in member
ship as we'll as in the volume of
business which is satisfactory to the
management and members.
During the seasons of 1922 and
1928 we received from the members
12S,404 pounds of wool, part of
which was sold as grease wool, and
the balance manufactured into suit
ingS, bed blankets, shirts, pants,
yarns, sweaters, etc., which were sold
mostly to consumers, thus making it
possible for them to purchase pure,
native, virgin wool garments at low
prices, and at the same time return
ing to the producer an increased
price for his wool.
1T is interesting to report that
large per cent. of the finished goods
is shipped to customers out of the
State and this is creating growing
demand.
THE net gain in price to the men,
bers. over the price paid by the local
buyers for the years 1922 and 1928
was 5,393.74.
''The amount of wool received and
on hand, for this season of 1924, is
60,922 pounds. Due to an unsatis-
O., - 1T