Annual Meeting 1053 



industry. If we are to draw conclusions simply from them, they 

 are most discouraging. In the period of ten years the number of 

 sheep in the State of New York decreased practically one-half; 

 the decrease in that period was something over 800,000. Yet we 

 are producing the best sheep that are being produced in the 

 market to-day; we have some of the most progressive breeders 

 in all this country, producing the highest type of animal, right 

 here in the State of New York. We have thousands and thousands 

 of acres of land, steep hillsides and rough lands, where men are 

 dragging out their lives attempting to produce cultivated crops, 

 that it seems to me could be more profitably devoted to the sheep 

 and pasturage for other animals, where less energy would be 

 needed and, with a little intelligence, much greater profit realized. 

 Domestic animals of all kinds are to remain high in price, so far 

 as human foresight can discern, certainly for the immediat;- 

 years of the future; and if the people of the State of New York 

 do not embrace the opportunity that is afforded them to engage 

 more generally in animal husbandry, they are missing a great 

 opportunity to promote their own interests and the general agri- 

 cultural interests of the state. If that interest is to be promoted 

 and stimulated, there is no body of men better qualified to devise 

 ways and means, better qualified to lead the way, than this 

 faithful band of intelligent breeders, who, for years, organized 

 under the title of the New York State Breeders' Association, 

 have been faithful and loyal to our waning animal husbandry 

 interests ; and there is so much in the future to encourage 

 all of us, that I am glad to see that we meet here to-day with 

 fresh hope for the future of the industry in which we believe, 

 and which should have a permanent place on every well-regulated 

 farm in the State of New York. 



I referred to the fact that we have given a great deal of atten- 

 tion on the program to the horse industry, and I hope you will 

 agree with us who are responsible for this program that this 

 industry is of prime importance in this state. A short 

 time ago I had occasion to make an examination in the 

 county clerks' offices of the state for the purpose of getting the 

 number and the kind of stallions that were registered for public 

 service. Fifteen or sixteen counties were selected as furnishing 



