396 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



MERINOS TN MICHIGAN FOR 1899. 



SECRETARY E. N. BALL. 



It is a matter or general information that the sheep business of our 

 country is experiencing a very active and remunerative epoch. Within 

 two or three years prices on all breeds and classes of sheep have im- 

 proved; during the same time wool has made a material advance in value, 

 and especially Merino or fine wool. 



In comparing sheep and wool statistics of three and four years ago 

 with the present year, everything tends toward improvement in prices. 

 Mutton is holding its own, but is not so closely confined to the strictly 

 mutton breeds as during a few years past. The heavy weight lamb or 

 wether on the market commands no higher— scarcely as high — a price 

 as the medium weight animal, whether it be strictly of the mutton type or 

 a cross with one of the different types of Merinos. 



From the wool growlers' standpoint there is an outlook of encourage- 

 ment. It is interesting to note that during the fiscal year just ended the 

 importation of raw wool into the United States was only |8,322,897 worth, 

 as against $16,783,692 of last year, and $53,243,191 in 1897, a falling off 

 between the j^ears '98 and '99 of over 50 per cent, and over 150 

 per cent between '97 and '99. This change benefits the Michigan wool 

 grower along with those of other states, and many a farmer who disposed 

 of his sheep in dull times has to pay an advanced price to replace them, 

 or be without the best paying adjunct to successful farming today. 



At a recent meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture the 

 farmers were strongly urged to turn their attention more to the sheep 

 industry. Confining ourselves a little more closely to Michigan, for the 

 Merino breeder there is encouragement. Merinos in Michigan today are 

 of several types. The older, the American Merino, descended from the 

 Spanish importations, heavy shearers, with short to medium length 

 staple and more or less folds; later, the Delaine, with the fine long staple 

 and smooth bodies, and still later, the French, with short to medium wool 

 and large plain bodies. These all are experiencing better times, the De- 

 laine and French to a marked degree. 



Reports show the sales of these breeds to have been more numerous 

 and at better prices than the registered American Merino. 



Among the breeders of Merinos there have been some disappointments 

 in the advance so long looked for, coming so slowly; and as yet good 

 prices are few and far between. However, we look forward to better 

 prices and quicker sales.' If the price of wool holds good, the sheep that 

 produce it will be in demand. 



To say that there is a boom in Merinos in Michigan up to date, August, 

 '99, is not to be contemplated, yet everything looks as if a decided im- 

 provement would be experienced ere long by breeders generally, as it has 

 been by some already. The breeder of the American Merino may rest 

 assured of one fact: when Merino wool brings from 17 to 20 cents per 

 pound, the Michigan farmer wants the sheep that will produce and that 

 class of sheep that will produce the most of it, and the American Merino 

 of the past and present will be the one sought after in the future. No 

 one can tell with certainty what the future will bring forth; but the 



