576 STATE BOAKD OF AGEICULTURE. 



liorses that attracted the general admiration of connoisseurs, and spoke volumes 

 for what those celebrated sires are doing for the improvement of our roadster 

 class of horses. 



Sheep. — There is a manifest revival in the fine-wooled sheep interest. High 

 prices have been paid for animals of merit, with good pedigrees, and sales at 

 corresponding figures are of frequent occurrence. Those who take a special 

 interest in Merino sheep, seem determined to bring their flocks up to a high 

 standard of excellence. Prominent among the importers of this class are 

 Messrs. John Good of Eichfield, H. K. and D. P. Dewey, J. H. Thompson, and 

 Oscar Beals of Grand Blanc. Inquiry after the most profitable breeds of sheep 

 for mutton, and the varieties whose constitution is best suited to our climate, is 

 the subject of attention, investigation, and experiment. The breeding of 

 Southdowns and Cotswolds, among the middle and long-wooled sheep, seems to 

 have been the most successful in this line, hitherto. 



Swine. — A determination to keep only the most approved breeds of swine, 

 becomes every day more manifest, and in this, as in other branches of stocic 

 raising already spoken of, importations of valuable animals have been made 

 within the year. Among those that have come under our observation are Essex 

 boars of much merit, brought in by Mr. J. L. Jennings of Mundy, and Mr. D. 

 S. Halsted of Vienna. Live hogs are shipped from this county by thousands; 

 and the quantity of dressed pork bought at Flint, Fenton, and other points, for 

 packing, has grown to an enormous trafldc. Of the various esteemed breeds, 

 Berkshire seems to take tlie lead, although many prefer Suffolk, and others, 

 Essex. The large-boned, heavy-framed, long-headed porkers, that once were 

 the prime favorites, have almost if not entirely disappeared. 



Poultry. — There is no class in whicli a single year has produced so great a 

 revolution, as in tlie exhibition of poultry. This change was brought about by 

 the organization in Flint, in December, 1875, of the Northern Micliigan Poultry 

 Association ; and their holding a very successful poultry fair in the month of 

 February following. The formation of this poultry association at once awak- 

 ened into active life a taste and interest evidently existent, but previously 

 dormant. The impetus thus given, extended itself to our county fair, and the 

 large show of the various standard classes of poultry was to many one of the 

 most attractive features of our annual exhibition. Few had any previous idea 

 of the extent, variety, and quality of the choice poultry owned in this county 

 until thus gathered together. 



The Poultry Association have made the arrangements for their second annual 

 fair, to be held from the 19th to the 23d of February next, inclusive, so that 

 there seems to be no danger of this newly awakened interest dying out or 

 flago-iuo-. 



Co O 



Manufactures — The manufacturing interests of the county continue to exhibit 

 as flourishing a condition as we have heretofore I'eported. "We again recapitulate 

 the leading manufacturing industries of the counby, viz. : Lumber, woolen 

 goods, house fittings, carriages and wagons, household furniture, machinery, 

 farming implements, dairy prodiicts, leather, brooms, harness, boots, shoes, etc. 



A new industry has been started within a few weeks, which promises to 

 become important and extensive in its scope. A company has been formed 

 called the Flint Broad-cast Seeder Company, and is now in full operation, for 

 the manufacture in Flint of the "Wolverine Seeder," for sowing all kinds of 

 grass, seeds, and grain broadcast, also plaster and ground fertilizers. Mr. 

 Oliver Perry is president of the company, and Mr. Oren Stone secretary and 



