Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 333 
back (if they progress too fast) when the fleece becomes too heavy 
in everything else but wool. We must make cleansing the test, by 
offering special and large premiums for the sheep producing the 
most cleansed wool. The long wools are getting to be an import¬ 
ant element in sheep-husbandry in some localities, and are product¬ 
ive of more profit to the farmer than fine wools. This class of 
sheep are improving so much, that now imported sheep do not take 
all the premiums, and breeders inform me that it is no longer nec¬ 
essary to sa} 7 , my sheep are imported from Canada, to make a sale; 
and may the time soon come when our state will be an exporter of 
long wools as she now is of fine wools. 
The exhibitors of sheep were much gratified with the improve¬ 
ments made by the society in the pens, and now think they can 
take as good care of their sheep on exhibition, as they can of their 
flocks at home, and that the progress made in sheep-husbandry is 
now beginning to be appreciated. I have no means at hand to as¬ 
certain the value of the wool crop of the state, but we all know 
that those having flocks of sheep to shear, have more money in 
June, than those who only raise wheat. 
Having lost the sense of smell, it made no difference to the su¬ 
perintendent where he placed the goats, but consideration for the 
visitors who might not be (in this case) so fortunate, I placed them 
at the east end of the pens; do not know whether it was on the 
right or left side. If the society continue to offer premiums for 
goats, I would advise a change, and offer it for the man who would 
state that he e a er received one dollar for the clip of one of them. 
There were not so many pens filled this year in the swine depart- 
s 
ment as last, I think the reason for which, was the mistake made 
b} 7 the society (in my judgment) in not offering premiums for the 
small breed of swine. The small breed in their place are as valuable 
as the large ones, and should be as well encouraged. The weather 
was so extremly hot, that the exhibitors were sorely troubled in 
getting their stock on the ground and suffered on that account more 
than any other class of exhibitors at the fair and the losses of one 
or two of the exhibitors, I am informed were very large. 
Of the quality of the stock I can say nothing, having had no op¬ 
portunity to see them after they were in the pens, but the report 
of the judges will show who had the best. I was told after the fair, 
that Mr. Lysaght sold some Berkshire pigs to breeders for pretty 
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