STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 93 



WOOL. 



In the early days of the California Mission "regime," sheep hus- 

 bandry was carried on to an enormous extent by those most astute and 

 enterprising pioneers of civilization, the " Mission Fathers.'' Afterwards 

 plundered, trampled upon, and discouraged by Mexican misrule, the 

 Mission establishments, with their countless herds of sheep, had gone 

 into ruins and nearly disappeared from the ranges at the advent of An- 

 glo-American enterprise. Appreciating the examples of success found 

 in the history of the early settlers, and under the protection of a just 

 and fostering government, sheep husbandly is again assuming vast im- 

 portance .in California. With unlimited pasturage, and a climate pecu- 

 liarly suited to the health of this animal, especially when congregated 

 in large bands, the crossing of breeds continues witii unexampled rapid- 

 ity, and it may be said truthfully that at this early day our State can 

 boast of larger herds of pure merinos, belonging to a single proprietor, 

 than any other country, not even excepting their nativity, Spain. 



Few obstacles are encountered in sheep growing in this State, and 

 most of these are susceptible of simple remedy. Among these difficul- 

 ties, it is stated, is an unevenness in the fibre, on account of the check- 

 ing of its growth just before and during the early part of the rainy sea- 

 son, when feed is short. This can and is being remedied by attentive 

 growers, who cut and stack hay to be fed out during the season of 

 famine. This keeps the flocks in good condition, so that the staple has 

 an even unchecked growth. 



ENTRY OF WOOL. 



J. B. Hoyt, Solano County: 



Three fleeces of Spanish Merino from eleven months lambs, weigh- 

 ing, in the aggregate, thirty-six and a half pounds. 



IMPLEMENT AND MACHINERY DEPARTMENT. 



E. Hughs, Santa Clara County: 



Safety blasting apparatus. 

 Eyeless mining pick. 



Thomas Varney, San Francisco: 

 Amalgamating pans. 



Julius Cameron, Sacramento : 

 Model of amalgamating pan. 



R. K. Wick, Sacramento: 

 Mining picks. 



C. II. Harrison, San Francisco: 



Eccentric steam force and lifting pump. 



F. B. Lamb, San Francisco : 



Sheep shearer. 



