692 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



handling wool. He defended the Michigan wool growers somewhat, from 

 the charge of carelessness in preparing wool, and insisted that the com- 

 mission merchants and manufacturers asked too much of the wool grower. 

 He said that wool should be bought on the basis of scoured value — that 

 is, its true value. One advantage the Ohio wool has over the Michigan 

 wool is that in Ohio, sheep have been bred for a long time with certain 

 ends in view, for length of staple and fine quality of wool and their fleeces 

 are not so badly mixed as in Michigan. The manufacturers do not pay 

 enough difference between wool that is well prepared and that which is 

 not, to pay the grower for doing his work well. He once made an experi- 

 ment in skirting wool and found that it did not pay. The manufacturers 

 would not pay enough for the best part of the fleece to make the difference 

 in the depreciation of the poor. He urged farmers to be careful to keep 

 the chaff out of wool and urged that only flax or linen twine be used to 

 tie up fleece. 



The situation regarding the different classes of live stock was then dis- 

 cussed. Robt. Gibbons of the Michigan Farmer talked on horse breed- 

 ing. He said that good draft horses promise the best return for the 

 money and trouble in growing them. Fine carriage teams bring the 

 highest price but require more skill in breeding and training. To sum 

 up, only good horses will pay in the future. 



Mr. William Ball talked on cattle breeding. He believes in the general 

 purpose cattle and in continuous improvement in one line. Promiscuous 

 crossing and grading of all breeds has done great damage to the cattle 

 interests in Michigan. 



Mr. A. A. Wood spoke of sheep breeding. It is in bad condition at 

 present, in Michigan. He thinks breeders must come back to the old 

 Merino sheep to produce wool and mutton, and as a foundation in cross- 

 ing with other breeds. 



Mr. L. F. Conrad, who was to have talked on swine, was not present. 

 Mr. Gibbons was requested to make some remarks and said that hogs 

 are too cheap; farmers are selling off and reducing their stock and they 

 may bring better prices next year. The run of hogs for the last six 

 months has been poor in quality. "I hear people talk against the corn 

 crop for feeding hogs. I do not believe in this. Corn is the greatest 

 crop in this country and the hog is the animal to use it. Most of the 

 hogs that come to the market this year should have bad more corn 

 rather than less." Mr. Ball asked if the bacon hog brought a better price 

 than others. Mr. Gibbons had not heard of any better price being paid. 



Mr. E. X. Ball said he did not believe there was a farmer that knew 

 exactly what is cost to grow a pig. He was going to try the Tamworth 

 although they had been talked against. He did not care how the animal 

 looked if it made him some- money. Mr. J. H. Brown said that when 

 prices arc good, breeders do not weed out. Mr. E. O. W r ood said he was 

 breeding Tamworths and was ready to defend them. He was very much 

 obliged to Iho other breeders for their talk against the Tamworths, as 

 it had helped to advertise them very much. 



A recess was taken to 1:30 p. m. 



1 :30 ]». m. Association convened. On mot ion. the place of next meet- 

 ing was fixed at Detroit. 



