216 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



eventually brought the price of milk below the cost of production, 

 and by the fall of 1899 many dairymen had decided to dispose of their 

 herds; and some had already done so, when a sudden rise in the 

 price of milk turned the tide, and at present it is bringing remunera- 

 tive prices; and milk dealers have runners out in many sections so- 

 liciting milk supply. 



About ten years ago wool began a downward tendency, and so 

 continued until 1890, when it reached a rock bottom of 10 cents for 

 unwashed, and 15 cents for washed fleece, per pound. Of course, 

 there was no money in sheep under these conditions and husband- 

 men, almost with one accord, placed their flocks on a glutted market 

 and disposed of them at ruinous prices. In some cases, even as 

 low as 50 cents per head for very fair quality of sheep. These men 

 turned their attention to the other lines of farm productions, and 

 largely to the dairy, because at that time, cows were high, and 

 dairy products commanding remunerative prices. A few of the 

 more prudent, however, retained their flocks, carefully culling them 

 from time to time, and disposing of the refuse. And in some cases, 

 the older and larger ewes were bred to a ram of the mutton breeds, 

 and the lambs sold to the butcher. Another feature of the case, has 

 been the springing up of numerous railroad towns, and of course, a 

 dog is a very necessary adjunct to a village home; and they so fre- 

 quently have wrought depredations among the flocks of the country 

 that husbandmen often declare they will have to abandon sheep 

 raising entirely. It is true, our State laws, of more recent enact- 

 ment, afford some relief to the farmer in making good his loss; but 

 it does not save the life of his sheep when a lot of hungry dogs get 

 among them. Besides, it is scarcely possible to estimate the actual 

 damage to a flock of sheep that has been worried by dogs. As a 

 rule, the farmer would be better off to destroy the flock iind dispose 

 of the pelts. But the reaction in wool, so long looked for, and so 

 slow to come, is at hand, and in spite of these adverse conditions 

 farmers are glad to secure high class breeding ewes at from |4.00 

 to 15.00 per head. And farmers anticipate receiving 40 cents for 

 their wool in 1900. 



In the swine industry there has, perhaps, been less variation in 

 breeding, relative to numbers, than in other lines of live stock; and 

 largely because each crop is marketed, in turn, regardless of the 

 condition of the market, thus making room for the next. There 

 has been a decided decrease in the number of young swine wintered 

 each season; farmers realizing that there is more profit in young, 

 early maturing swine, placing the spring crop on the market the 

 following fall. Besides, the demand of the market is, largely, for a 

 smooth, fleshy made pig weighing from 175 to 225 pounds live 

 weight. And March or April pigs can easily be made reach this 



