400 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



has been immensely decreased ; by 4,000,000 iu Ohio alone, and prices have 

 dropped even for the very finest bred animals, but at present, profits are 

 bettering. 



President Willits: Then you think the 4,000,000 Ohio sheep will be 

 restored under the present tarifi? 



Mr. Dean: Yes, sir. 



Mr. Willis, of Moscow: I am feeding grade Shropshire lambs; and I would 

 ask Mr. Eiwards if the fine wool breeders did not try to raise too heavy a 

 wool — too much oil and foreign substance? 



Mr. Edwards: Each one of us breeds for money. Fashion controls aad 

 may have led us astray. 



Mr. Conklin: Why does Mr. Dean expect the price of wool to raise without 

 an increase of tariff? 



Mr. Dean: Australia has di-awbacks. The drought in 1885 destroyed 

 15,000,000 sheep, and to-day in European markets wool is advancing every 

 day. 



President Willits: I voted for the ten per cent reduction of the tariff on 

 wool. There was a general purpose to reduce the tariff all around ten per cent. 

 The manufacturers claimed that they had to use American wools, tariff or no 

 tariff, on account of its qualities, and that they also used Australian wools 

 in connection with American wools, and so they secured a tariff which helped 

 them more than the growers. I don't feel certain that the tariff was wholly or 

 €ven mainly responsible for the reduction in the price of wool. This reduc- 

 tion IS no greater than in wheat and iron and everytliing else and it seems 

 that we are now on the up grade again. I remember a similar e:xperience 

 once when there was no such tariff alteration at all. 



Mr. Edwards: Was there not a raise in tariff soon after the depression 

 of which you speak ? 



President Willits: I think not before the subsequent rise. 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



READ AT THE BANCEOFT INSTITUTE BY MR. L. W. BARNES. 



In the days when the Greek and Latin poets sang their songs, no class 

 ranked higher than the flock-masters, and I believe a majority at least of the 

 flock-masters of to-day stand in the front rank of our most honorable and 

 respected " tillers of the soil." This perhaps may be somewhat due to the 

 fact, that of all our domestic animals the sheep are the most meek and 

 innocent in their nature. 



In many cases, it has a great effect on the character of those who 

 study the nature, habits, and requirements of the sheep, as a successful 

 breeder or flock-master muse. Especially so, with those who b:gin to give 

 *' Sheep Husbandry " their attention in their boyhood as did many of our 

 most successful breeders. 



Hence, I say to you, brother farmers, encourage your boys to handle and 

 care for the sheep, and keep good sheep that will please and interest them. 

 It may keep them from becoming interested and bewitched with fast horses. 



