88 
STATE AGEICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
that the first impulse was to sell off, or slaughter, his sheep 
and go out of the business. It is safe to predict that, after ft 
time, when it comes to be realized that gold is no longer at 200 
but only 115, and that everything is gradually adjusting itself 
to this change in values, a majority of those who have hastily 
abandoned wool-growing will return to it and again join their 
efforts with the more steady and consistent endeavors of others 
to develop the wool-producing resources of the state. 
Whatever can be done by the law-making power to aid in 
this important work should be done. It is safe to say that ' 
better laws than those now in force for the protection of flocks 
from the ravages of dogs are capable of being framed and put 
in operation; and the opinion is becoming quite prevalent 
among substantial farmers largely engaged in the business, 
that a little show of statesmanship in this and other matters 
looking to the development of the state, should be exchanged 
for the narrow views, gross ignorance and silly trifling which 
too often manifest themselves on all occasions, when this im¬ 
portant subject is brought to the attention of the legislature. 
In 1868 Wisconsin had nearly 2,000,000 sheep, worth, at a 
low valuation, over $4,000,000—the seventh state in the union ; 
Ohio, Hew York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois 
and Iowa, alone out-ranking her. And it is certainly a matter 
of much moment that all measures calculated to promote this 
interest should receive the respectful and thoughtful consider¬ 
ation of every citizen placed by the popular vote in a position 
where it is so easy to retard or advance the prosperity of the 
commonwealth. 
THE DAIRY BUSINESS 
« 
Has had a remarkable development during the past year, in 
consequence of the great interest awakened in the matter of 
establishing factories for the manufacture of cheese. 
It is but recently that this system of cheese-making was 
first introduced. Hew York took the initiative, and there 
are now in that state alone between 700 and 800 large estab¬ 
lishments engaged in the business—some of them consuming 
