WOOL growers' association. 385 



expect to continue with the Cotswold sheep. What made our combing wool 60 

 valuable in the middle of our century. Our al[iaca goods were produced from an 

 animal in South America called the ''Alpaca," and no other wool was employed in 

 their manufacture but thin. The manufacturers of England conceived the idea 

 that the wool of the Cotswold, Lincoln and Leicester could be manufactured into 

 alpaca goods, and the United States commenced soon to manufacture goods from 

 the same material, and hence this long combing wool came in general favor. Those 

 alpaca goods so common as an article of dress among the ladies, were from this 

 wool. It has not been long since we imported annually over twenty millionu 

 of combing wool, besides the other wool imported here. There was a grand field 

 open and everybody went into it, but fashions change and we all know we some- 

 times go into extremes. When every farmer goes to rearing the same kind of stock 

 we over-do the thing. It reacts, gentlemen; mark what I tell you. Combing wool 

 is not as high in the market to-day as when it was in demand btfore, but the time 

 is not far distant when the combing wool will be as high as in 1878, 1879 and 1880. 

 There was not much demand for this wool, and people quit raising it. In five 

 years combing wool will be higher than ever. Alpaca goods are coming in style 

 again. Mr. Merritt told us last sj)ring, after he examined this long wool, "don't 

 stop raising this; there will be demand for it." 



Mr. Hoivland. Is the Cotswold the best breed for producing long wool ? 

 Mr. Dungan. Yes, the Cotswohl, Leicester and Lincoln are all long wool sheep. 

 The Lincoln has the finest wool of any. 



Mr. Howland. How about Lincoln sheep, mainly called Bakewell? 

 Mr. Dungan. It was in England this sheep was produced, in Leicester, hence 

 the name given. 



Mr. Honiand. Was the cress made between the Cotswold and Leicester after 

 Bakewell got them? 



Mr. Dungan. No, this was done before. 



Mr. Howland. lias the Cotswold any other blood but Cotswold and Leicester? 

 Mr. Dungan. That is a hard question to answer. In all those breeds they use 

 difTerent animals that show symmetrical form. Mr. Navin used nothing but Lei- 

 cester in making his improvement. Men diflfer on these points. 



Mr. Howland, You don't know just what blood is in the Cotswold. 

 Mr. Dungan. Yes, anel many others. The Lincoln is the largest sheep in the 

 world. There have been hundreds and hundreds of them brought to this country 

 by English breeders, anel soki as pure bred sheep. The sheep we raised were pure. 

 Mr. Darnell has the honor of bringing Gray Prince, the grandest sheep ever 

 brought to this country. He took the premium at the Centennial Exliibition. I 

 am very much pleased with the Shropshire. The Shropshires have much Cotswold 

 blood in the face. They produce the original better than all those cross breeds. 



Mr. NelKon. I must say that I have been well entertaineel by the reading of the 

 address. 



Mr. Farquhar. W^e'have wintejed the Coti-wold, Southdown and Shropshire breeds^ 

 and at clipping time the Cotswold sheared 7J lbs.. Southdown 8 lbs., and Shrop- 

 ehire G lb.=. Taking altogether, I think the Cotswold is ihe most profitable sheep to 

 keep. I can^not speak of the I^icester, Merino and Lincoln. 

 25 — Agkiculture. 



