386 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Wiley. What number of sheep would you consider proper for a flock to 

 4o well, of the different breeds. 



Mr. Farquhar. I think fifty would be enough, and twenty -five would be better. 



AL; Dungan. As we have commenced giving our experience, it would be of in- 

 .terest to hear from all the members, that we may know what kind of sheep are be- 

 ing raised in the different neighborhoods, the condition of the sheep, and the feel- 

 ing of the people so far as they know regarding the present outlook of sheep hus- 

 bandry. 



Mr. Beela'. I learn that about 60 per cent, of the sheep in Texas have been 

 destroyed. 



W. R. Goodwin, of (he Kansas City Indicator. The destruction of sheep and cat- 

 tle down there is attributed to the storm. The cold weather has extended farther 

 4own than ever known before, and the sleet and snow has covered up the grass 

 from the sheep. At the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange, we have a market for 

 the western trade, and sheep have been selling from 25 cents to $3.00 per head. 

 There have been several hundred sold in the last month at 25 cents per head. For 

 gome reason the farmei-s are bringing in all the ragtail sheep in the country, and 

 there are many of them in Kansas and Missouri. I have been trying to find out 

 the cause of this, but I can not tell you why it is. Some think the tariff has some- 

 thing to do with it. There is a general skirmish all along the line ; but tliey are 

 advised there not to be ra,sh in selling off, but to hold on. My private opinion is, 

 they have tried to use the grade too much instead of pure bred sheep. 



Mr. King. The gentleman from Kansas has expressed the condition of affairs 

 in our country. We are breeding some high grade sheep ; are now shipping them 

 at low prices, after having to f^ed a month or six weeks. The lamb trade i^ 

 spoiled. I used to make it very profitable. The last lot of lambs, consisting of 100 

 or more, made me no money. The reason of this I can not tell. Men are selling 

 their entire flocks and quitting the business. 



Mr. Henley. The part I was most interested in in the last address was the 

 -adaptation of the Cotswold sheep to the wool growers of Indiana. The general 

 inclination of wool growers and sheep breeders is to get rid of their sheep. I 

 think the gentleman from the West struck the key-note when he said we breed too 

 carelessly and breed scrubs. I have had some correspondence with parties in Kansas 

 and Texas as to the character of their breed of sheep, and they i^ay they have not 

 tlie sheep that they want. Low prices cut a large figure. Men will abandon the 

 business if it is not profitable. We must import a large amount of wool this year, 

 according to statistics. From the destruction of sheep In the United States, the 

 importation must be larger than it now is. The general tendency seems to be to 

 -get rid of the sheep. Some men are keeping their flocks up pretty well in number.'*, 

 while a great majority are cutting down in numbers. Men ai-e not careful about 

 breeding, and we are losing in price and quality of mutton and wool. I look upon 

 'Sjur State as regards soil and climate as being a State in which sheep may be raised 

 profitably. We have much land, low in price, which is well adapted to the raising 

 of sheep. I claim that I can take a good flock of Cotswold sheep and make more 

 money, even at present prices, by forcing them, producing a large amount of wool 

 And heavy carcass, making more money out of sheep than hogs. 



