MICHIGAN LIVE STOCK IN 1899 397 



Merino in Michigan for 1899 is all right. The business is remunerative, 

 probably paying as well as any other branch of mixed husbandry. 



We note that the sales of car lots for the west are Merinos or Merino 

 grades, and very few others are sought after. There was a time latelv 

 passed when car lots of Merinos were not wanted, were not salable, but 

 today it is very different; we know of several lots being sold of late at 

 prices that are profitable to the breeder, but they consisted of large, plain 

 sheep, Merinos of one of the three breeds mentioned above, and the breed 

 has less to do with the sale than the size and smoothness of the individual 

 animal. There is an improvement in the sale of sheep for export. While 

 there are a few bought, the quality has to be extra good, and the Merino of 

 ten and twelve years ago fills the bill today. 



Many have quit breeding the registered American Merino during the 

 past ten years, but the older pioneers in the business are still holding on, 

 and after a number of years of depression the future looks better — the 

 present is better. 



Just as long as clothing is worn, just so long will Merino wool be used, 

 and that from Michigan is just as good as there is in the world, and the 

 Michigan breeder will raise it just as long as there is profit in its produc- 

 tion. 



OXFOED DOW^N SHEEP IN MICHIGAN, 1899. 



H. J. DeGARMO. 



In preparing this, a record or history for Oxford Downs of Michigan in 

 1899, for your honorable board, it seems almost necessary to go back to 

 an earlier date for the start. And, in the short time alloted me, together 

 with other work on hand, I may not gather as accurate or complete a 

 record as your honorable body, or even your humble servant, might wish. 



The history of Oxfords in the United States is, comparativeh^ of recent 

 date, to say nothing of their history in Michigan. The first Oxford im- 

 ported from England to the United States was during, and for the pur- 

 pose of sbow at, the Centennial held in Philadelphia in 1876, w^here he 

 was awarded sweepstakes over all mutton breeds in America. This ram, 

 Freeland No. 220, with others, was purchased by Americans, and from 

 this time dates the importation and breeding of Oxfords in America. The 

 honors won by Freeland No. 220 in 1870 were again won by an Oxford 

 ram, Heythrop Prince 2d, No. 7920, at the World's Fair at Chicago in 

 1893. And again at Omaha in 1898 by an Oxford ram, Dick vStowes, 

 grand champion ram of the show. Thus the Oxfords have carried off 

 the honors at the three greatest shows the world has ever known. 



The history of Oxfords in Michigan is still of a more recent date. than 

 that of him in the United States, the exact date of which, with regret, I 

 am not able to give. But records show that a Mr. J. H. Peabody of 

 Birmingham, Oakland county, purchased nine imported ewes and an im- 

 ported ram from one Mr. Wm. M. Miller of Claremont, Ont., about 1882 or 

 1883. These were probably the first Oxfords owned in the State of Mich- 

 igan. It is stated by good authority that for this flock Mr. Miller refused 

 upwards of |000 offered by a Wisconsin man. For some reasons, un- 

 known, Mr. Peabod}" did not continue as a breeder very long, and this flock 



