686 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tion, while New Mexico and the west get only two cents per pound and 

 this not till August, 1898, which is of no practical value to us. 



I recommend that all members of this association use their influence 

 to have Gov. Rich, Hon. Wm. G. Markham and all congressmen and sen- 

 ators from their respective districts, do all in their power to prevent 

 the passage of the Dingley bill now before the senate and to urge a call 

 for an extra session of congress, at the earliest date possible after the 

 4th of March next to review our present tariff laws, restore the duty on 

 wool, sufficient for "ample protection,'' and place a duty on shoddy and 

 all adulterants of the wool trade sufficient to be practically prohibitive. 



If the tariff of 1867 had been continued till this time, we would doubt- 

 less have had wool enough produced now to supply our home demand. 

 The act of 1883 sent wool and sheep rapidly on the decline and the un- 

 sound policy of 1894 completed the ruin of this branch of agriculture. 

 It was the most ruinous blow ever dealt by a legislative act. The present 

 condition of the tariff is ruinous to our American sheep industry. 



Sheep are now declining five millions per annum, when they ought to 

 increase that amount. Michigan suffers her share of decrease with the 

 rest of the country. With proper protection, sheep will increase suffi- 

 cient to make mutton cheap enough to be within the reach of all, both 

 rich and poor, for food, and at no distant day we can produce in the 

 United States all the wool we need of all kinds, for home consumption. 



Robert Gibbons followed. After speaking specially for the long wools 

 — the Lincolns, Leicester's and Cotswolds, their origin and character- 

 istics, their value for special locations and the necessity for their special 

 grades of wool if requirements of manufacturers were to be met, he fol- 

 lowed with some general remarks on sheep husbandry. We give a part 

 of the paper: 



In looking over the program for this meeting, and noting the names of 

 those who were to speak upon the interesting topics of sheep and wool, 

 I concluded that friend Taft would probably coufine his remarks to the 

 outlook for the Down breeds, with special reference to his particular 

 favorites — the Hampshire — a breed worthy of his best efforts. And that 

 Friend Wykoff, with his usual energy and enthusiasm, would speak for 

 the Delaine Merinos, with special reference to the giants of the breed 

 — the Rambouillet or French. It appeared to me therefore, that I would 

 be expected to say a word for the long wool mutton breeds, or their merits 

 and virtues would not receive due recognition from this combined meet- 

 ing of Michigan's leading breeders of improved live stock. 



And, in this connection, I want to refer to the great good this asso- 

 ciation has done in broadening out the breeders of the State, in making 

 them acquainted not only with the merits of the different breeds of im- 

 proved stock, but also with the good fellowship, the geniality, and sturdy 

 good qualities of the men who are engaged in the great and patriotic work 

 of adding to their value and making their merits known to the world. 

 We are all standing shoulder to shoulder — the cattle breeder, the sheep 

 breeder, the swine breeder, and the horse breeder. The old-time jealousy 

 of breeds and classes is dying out under the kindly influence of our State 

 Association, and a better knowledge of the various breeds gained from 

 closer association and companionship. It is pleasant to see such good 



