206 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



A few points of interest should be noted from the above table. 



First, That mmh more wool was purchased and reached tiie markets during the 

 season of 18!)9 than was j)roduced. 



Second, Only about one-fifth of the wool marketed in Michigan was washed wool. 



Third, Approximately one-fifth of the wool produced in Michigan is Merino or fine 

 wool. 



Fourth, Nearly one-fourth of the wool is clipped from Michigau'flocks before May 1, 

 showing that the practice of early shearing is much more common than formerly. A 

 favorable condition which we are pleased to note. 



It should be said, by way of explanation, that the totals opposite the different 

 counties do not accurately represent the amount of wool produced in said counties. 

 They mean that buyers in those counties purchased that amount of wool of the char- 

 acter indicated. The totals for the State can be relied upon, as well as the statements 

 in regard to the condition of the wool marketed. 



From reports sent in by local wool dealers it appears that only three counties in the 

 State show an increase in the production of Merino wool, these counties being Emmet, 

 Washtenaw and Eaton. 



Six others, Midland, Mecosta, Iosco, Alpena. Barry and Clinton show neither an 

 inciease nor a decrease. 



Thirty-three counties show a decided decrease in the amount of Merino wool pro- 

 duced. They are as follows: Arenac, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Osceola, Oscoda. 

 Wexford, Allegan, Livingston, Macomb, Wayne, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Montcalm. 

 Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Monroe, Oakland. Otta\v'a. Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. 

 Joseph, Van Buren, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Gene- 

 see and Hillsdale. 



Three hundred and fifteen replies were received from local wool dealers. We made 

 an effort to get answers to our inquiries from every wool buyer in Michigan. Only 

 twelve out of the three hundred and fifteen were satisfied with the condition in whicli 

 Midiigan wool reaches the market. Eighteen made no criticisms. Fourteen com- 

 plained that sheep were poorly cared for, hence wools were not of strong fibre. Fifty- 

 six said wools reaching them were poorly tied, objecting to coarse, heavy wool twine, 

 binder twine and sisal. A very large per cent found fault with the presence of tags, 

 chaff, burrs, dirt and other litter in the fleeces. Tags and chaff were most often men- 

 tioned. A total of two hundred forty-nine buyers complained of dirty fleeces, includ- 

 ing, as already said, tags, chaff and burrs. 



With the vast amount of cheap unoccupied land in Michigan which is well adapted to 

 sheep husbandry, combined with the present encouraging outlook for the wool and mut- 

 ton industry, it is our opinion that farmers can well afford to double the number of 

 sheep now kept in the State. Our climate and other conditions are favorable for the 

 growth of wool and mutton, and our geographical position gives lis many advantages 

 both from a breeder's and from a general farmer's standpoint. 



BREEDING FOR WOOL. 



The present tendency of the wool market points to a continued active demand for fine 

 grades of wool which the Merino alone produces. Michigan has long since proven her 

 adaptability to the Merino. The Merino was brought to Michigan probably as early as 

 1828, and from that time until the beginning of the depression in the wool industry 

 the Michigan Merino was well and favorably known all over the world. The success- 

 ful breeding of Merino sheep is therefore assured; and if the adaptability of the Merino 

 to Michigan's conditions is proven, and no one will deny it, then successful wool 

 growing in Michigan cannot be questioned. We speak of the Merino, more particularly, 

 in connection with the wool industry, because the Merino has always been recognized 

 as the standard wool sheep of the world. The Merino has been bred and fed for the 

 production of quantity and quality of fleece for generations. 



A very large percentage of the wool produced in the United States is cross-bred 

 w'ool. That is, of the wool reaching our markets, but a small percentage, relatively 

 speaking, comes from pure-bred sheep, even if we take the total product from all the 

 breeds of sheep having recognized registry associations into account. 



The fleeces of wool which are graded by local dealers or commission men are seldom 

 opened. The sorting process is a much closer and more accurate method of classifying 

 wools. Before the wool is scoured it is generally sorted. The expert wool sorter opens 



