DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 37 



The other group consisted of four liijili grade Shorthorn coavs, two 

 of them with progeny sired by the Hereford bull, the other two by a 

 scrub bull. One of the scrub calves had been pail fed and the other 

 ]u\d suckled the dams; the same was true of the two grades. These 

 groups made an impressive illustration of the possibilities of improving 

 scrul) or grade cat lie by using pedigreed sires and emphasized llu' 

 fallacy of the use of s<-rubs. 



Two pens of common, mixed bred western sheep of five each were 

 shown in pens side by side with their lambs, one pen of which was 

 sired by an imported Hampshire ram, the olher by a scrub. 



Those who accompanied these exliil)its did more or less judging at 

 the smaller fairs in addition to a number of other places. In such 

 cases Ihe services of the men are given without charge except such 

 as to cover Ihe actual expenses. 



Herds and Flocks. A vigorous effort has been put forth during tiie 

 past few years to develop good, strong, representative herds and flocks 

 in all the lines of animal industry in which ^lichigan is especially in- 

 terested. The following are the present members of our herds and 

 flocks, viz.: Horses, 18 head; pure bred beef cattle, 41; grade beef 

 cattle, :*>7; pure bred daiiy cattle, 50; grade dairy cattle, 40; registered 

 sliee]), 174: grade sheep, 159; registered hogs, 147; grade hogs, 2.'). 



The cattle, sheep, swine and poultry divisions have been placed on 

 fairly satisfactory footings and an effort is being made to improve the 

 horses. During the year six registered mares were procured, viz. : Four 

 Percherons in Iowa and a pair of two-year-old, imported Clydesdale 

 fillies in Canada. Two of the Percherons produced mare colts during 

 the past spring. The plan is to replace most of the common farm work 

 horses with pedigreed mares, to be used for both work and breeding. 



The farm building equipment work is now practically complete and 

 a full description of the regrouping, remodeling, an<l refitting of the 

 various buildings has been given in Station Bulletin No. 250, with the 

 exception of a manure shed erected since this report was issued. This 

 manure shed, M0x60, was placed in the center of a court formed by 

 the horse barn, beef cattle, bull and sheep barns. It is so arranged 

 that the manure which is conveyed from the barn by means of carriers 

 iind overhead tracks can be dumped either on the manure spreader, 

 which is under cover, or in tlie storage l)ins beyond. This system is 

 needed especially to protect the manure spreaders, store manure at 

 such times when it cannot go directly on the land and permit keei)ing 

 the yards in a cleanly condition. 



As Secretary of the Michigan Improved Live Stock Breeders' and 

 Feeders' Association, Air. Anderson, during the past year prepared a 

 Live Stock Directory of the state, which at present contains the names, 

 postoffice addresses, and classes of stock reared by over two thousand 

 farmers, stock men and feeders of Michigan. This more comph^e 

 directory will be of gi-eat assistance in extending the already ipiite 

 wide and valuable influence of the Bi'eeders' Association, in promoting 

 live stock improvement, and in guarding Michigan live stock interests 

 both within and without the Stale. 



During the past year the secretary has acted as an agent or medium 

 of exchange between buyer and seller, and by this means has heljyod 

 to place much of the surplus pure bred stock where it is much needed. 



