No. 123.] DAIRYING AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. 15 



invitation to 3 schools. The children on visiting the farm were 

 given an instructive talk on sheep, and saw the power-shearing 

 machines in operation. Last spring 4 of the sheep farms gave 

 extra attention to the special dressing of early lambs to supply 

 a special market. Sheep raisers near those farms, who had 

 early lambs, were instructed in the best way to dress lambs, 

 and obtained satisfactory prices. 



The demonstration farm managers have also been of great 

 service in encouraging the use of paper twine for tying fleeces; 

 advice on feeding the farm flock; planning sheep pens; assist- 

 ing in selection of pure-bred rams; in treatment for parasites; 

 and in the assembling of small pools of wool. 



This year most of the farmers asked for a plan to sell their 

 wool in the grease. Therefore the several demonstration farms 

 served as points of assembly, and small pools of wool were made 

 in these communities. A total of 37,681 pounds of wool was 

 sold through these local pools. The country buyers were offer- 

 ing about 25 cents per pound early in the season; later, in one 

 community, 30 cents per pound was offered. The growers by 

 pooling received from 36 cents early in the season to 45 cents 

 later. With the larger lots of wool to bid on, buyers offered 

 the more satisfactory prices, and the growers received, net, 

 from 34 to 42 cents, which averaged almost 9 cents per pound, 

 on all the wool sold, above what the country buyers were pay- 

 ing. 



Inquiries were received from time to time to have small lots 

 of wool made into virgin wool blankets, as last year. The 

 total amount of wool oft'ered for manufacturing into blankets 

 was too small to justify making a pool this year. 



The managers of these farms state that the sheep raisers are 

 asking more and more for advice on sheep husbandry and for 

 the service offered by these demonstration sheep farms. 



Exhibits and Meetings. 

 In April a special dairy exhibit was put on at the Home 

 Beautiful Exposition. This exhibit was made up of a herd of 

 10 dairy animals, 3 beef animals, and dairy house equipment 

 in operation. Various breeders of pure-bred dairy cattle sup- 

 plied noted dairy animals, representatives of their respective 

 breeds. The dairy herd was made up of 2 Holstein cows, 2 



