MICJIIUAN STATE AGRICULTUKAL SOCIKTY 343 



very late date, four days before the first day of the fair, I reluctautly 

 consented to care for the department. 



The exhibitors of slieep in all or nearly all classes was exception- 

 ally liood. No friction occurred and everything;- moved on satisfactorily, 



Followino; is the report of entries in said department together with 

 premiums offered and premiums awarded and paid as shown by the 

 proceediuii's. Keport of which is here attached: 



In a measure, at least, the rules for entry are entirely disregarded. 

 The exhibitors very seldom comply with rule No. 12, in live stock 

 division. I failed to find a single instance in which the rule for sheep 

 requiring manner and date of shearing to be given at time 

 of entry was complied with. I do not know of an in- 

 stance where an exhibitor was required to i)rove the registry 

 of his sheep in any of the designated registers. I find noth- 

 ing in the rules which points out whose duty it is to recpiire exhibitors 

 to comply with the rule. As I understand the object of the Society 

 in offering ])remiums to the dift"erent breeders of sheep (as well as 

 other stock) is to demonstrate the value of different families of sheep 

 best for specific purposes. The premium list offers premiums in thor- 

 oughbred American Merino, Rambouilett Merinos and Delaine Merinoes. 

 Dickinson or Black Tojjs. Last fall if a breeder had a good sized sheep 

 with a fleece that would pass as a Delaine wool, it was put into a Delaine 

 class whether it was bred for such purposes or whether it happened 

 to be a ''sport" or an accident, whether it belonged to the class legiti- 

 mately or not. Some plan should be devised that would oblige exhib- 

 itors to comply with the intent of the rules and be prepared with the 

 proper registers to show for what purpose and in what register the 

 sheep is recorded. Either throw out the Delaine class or define it ex- 

 plicity so that the Delaine breeder who is spending his time and money 

 in developing that class of sheep shall be protected against the prac- 

 tice of Merino exhibitors (who happen to have a plain bodied, long 

 fleeced and, as a rule, heavier fleeced one, of placing them in the com- 

 petition with a class in which they do not belong. At the last fair 

 the sheep s])ace was inadequate for the comfort and convenience of 

 exhibitors. As a rule the pens were too much crowded. The sheep 

 were scattered ov(n' too much space and it was very fatiguing 1o bring 

 slice]) from the north swine building (where some were located) to the 

 place of exhibitors. Ko proper place is provided in which to exhibit 

 sheej). They had to be shown in the driveway, in cattle barns or aisles, 

 or in the opening between buildings. Either more s])a(e should be 

 furnished or exhibitors should not have room for so many sale sheep 

 as are in the habit of occupying space which proi)erly belongs to sheep, 

 wliicli are entered for only exhibition i)uri)oses. Two ])oin<s are to 

 be <(insidei'<Ml. the Society and the exliiltitors and also the visitor. All 

 should be treated with justice and fairness. 



All of which is respectfullv submitted. 



WILLIAM BALL. 

 Acting Superiii(ciid<Mit. 



The number of entries, amount ofl'ered and amounts rewarded in 

 the several classes will be found in the report of the secretary. 



