^Lf^iWEEKCr
VOL. XXV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB. 1, 1890.
NO. 5
INDIANA BREEDERS.
The Live Stock Associations of the State
in Annual Convention.
Good Attendance—Increased Interest.
Reports of the Different Meetings Held.
The State Industrial livestock associations held
their regular annual meetings in this city last week,
and the usual congregation of farmers and breeders
at the capital city interchanged opinions and ex peri"
ences in the past year's work, and went home amply
repaid for the time and expense. These yearly
meetings area valuable means for the dissemination of practical knowledge and should receive the
hearty support of every stock breeder in the state.
Their beneficial Influence can hardly be overestimated. The attendance this year was perhaps not
as large as it should have been,but each association
shows quite a list of new members, and taken altogether, tbe meetings were a decided success. We
give below a report of the proceedings.
THE WOOL GEOWEES.
Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Association.
The 15tli annual meeting of the I ndianaWoolG rowers' Association convened ln the State Agricultural
Rooms on ihe 21st inst., and was called to order by
tbe president, I. N. Cotton,of Traders Point. Thirty
members were present, and the Interest manifested
was very encouraging to all. -
PRESIDENT   COTTON'S   ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Indiana Wool Growers' Association:
We have met to-day In our fifteenth annual meeting as wool growers, and not only as wool growers
but as mutton producers. And we shall endeavor
to take a retrospective view of ourconditlon and progress. Aud In doing this we will not do It ina narrow and selfish way, but with that spirit which looks
to the bettering of the larger number of this nation,,
knowing that when tbe larger number is benefitted
the Individual Is likewise benefitted. There never
was a time in this country as now when the agriculturist is looking in every direction to discover
the product of the farm that will give him the best
returns for his labor, and many eyes are turned to
the sheep. And while we have lost in number we
have gained In value, not in the increase of price of
wool per pound, but In quantity; for we have in the
last twenty-five years doubled the clip In pounds
and improved It iu quality, and who would dare say
to-day that we, as a nation, cannot produce wool of
every desired quality, from the covering of our
floors to the finest broadcloth and worsted worn
either by man or woman. Some are in favor of
flooding tlit:. country with foreign wool. What
would be the result? Some one says, cheaper clothing. And what docs cheaper clothing mean? It
means cheaper labor for the wool grower, cheaper
labor for the spinner, cheaper labor for the weaver,
and cheaper labor for the tailor. And what does all
this mean? It means less food for those laborers or
it means a less price for that food, and who does
that less price strike? I answer the farmer, the
producer of the bread, beef, pork and mutton that
the laborer consumes.
Let us increase the number of our sheep from 43,-
000,000 to 100,000,000 shearingC00,0«-,00j pounds of wool,
doubling the number of sheep, doubling tlie number
of farmers raising sheep, doubling the number of
factories and factory hands and tailors, diverting
their labors from some other overproduction, while
we feed these men and their families on our corn,
our wheat, our beef, our pork and our mutton, the
sheep consuming tons of hay, acres of pasture and
thousands of bushels of corn and oats. Why shall
we not divert millions of capital and thousands of
laborers fr^m other Industries of which there Is
overproduction rather than to allow other nations
to crowd their productions onus. This increase of
sheep and wool would enable the producer, the mechanic and the laborer to purchase and consume the
more food and clothing, to build better houses and
barns, and patronize schools, colleges and churches.
It would give employment to a multitude of men
and women, and rich and poor alike would rejoice
In the prosperity. Foreign flock-masters and the
enemies of our national Industries alone would suffer and howl.
Of all stock raisers, the wool growers have the
least cause to complain of depression so far as the
sheep relates to human food. The sheep to-day is
bringing the best price of any of the domestic animals that go to the butcher's block. The principal
reason for this improvement is found in the confidence given to the trade by certain rulings given by
the secretary of the treasury in relation to the class-
iflcationof wool and woolproductsand theincreased
duty which foreign wool has to pay In consequence
of said ruling.
The present demand for mutton shows that we are
-becoming a mutton-eating people, and the wool
grower may become a mutton grower. We are now
annually consuming over one sheep to the adult in
habitant. The history of growth and progress In
this country clearly develops tlie fact that whatever
seems essential to convenience and health of the
people is what they will have, und also that when
there is a demand for any product of tbe land, American enterprise and industry have always been
ready to supply It.
Man, Individually or collectively, never gains any
material results by inactivity. I would therefore
recommend a vigilance on all subjects of legislation
whereby our interests may be protected and advanced.
And as long as this Government collects iU revenue by tariff", or any portion of lt, the wool grower
should not relax his effort to secure his full proportion of that tariff. Why shall our representatives in
Congress strike especially at the wool grower aud
place him on the free list? The fanner is to-day
bearing the heat and burden of this Government.
And as long as the ballot remains in our hands if we
are trampled down it will be our own fault. Let us
demand of the custom-house officers a rigid enforcement of our laws in the collection of revenue on
wool.
We have reached a period fn the agriculture of
the country when success in farming means the
maximum or greatest yield of products; the minimum or smallest yield means indebtedness, hard
times, self-dental and poverty.
Mr. J. R. Dodge says that sheep above all domestic animals, show a decline in numbers from 1884 to
1889 but are increased in value. This undoubtedly
shows that we are drifting to the mutton sheep. For
the Increase In value can not be attributed io either
increase in number or Increase In valueof wool,
Secretary Rusk, in his recent report,says: "I respectfully call your attention to a fact full of •significance. In this connection. There have been serious Interruptions to the prosperity of the wool
growers since the reduction of the tarlffof 1883; the
number of sheep have apparently been reduced
7,000,000, and the importation of wool has increased
from 78,3W>31 pounds tn 1884 to 126,487,7*j the past
year." Upon the sheep and wool Industry of this
country the burden of this loss has fallen.
Organisation is the order of the day. Then, let us
not only bold our wool growers* organization, but
find means to more closely unite all the live stock
and agricultural organizations, not only of this State
but of the whole nation fn one solid effort not only
to protect ourselves but to act for ourselves. We,
being In a majority, should not be asking for this
or that legislation but should legislate for ourselves*
Let us look about and see how it Is, regardless of
party. If there is an office to be filled, tbe farmer
may get one In a hundred.
RAISING   SIIEEP POR MUTTON.
I. J. Williams, of Muncie, presented the above
subject in a very creditable manner: lie said: This
question has been one of considerable thought, yet
there Is a diversity of opinion among good judges,
but 1 will answer the question by saying now, for if
we raise sheep Just for mutton, why not abandon
them and raise cuttle. In raising sheep the wool
will pay for the keeping, if we breed for mutton, we
decrease this profit, and therefore we must not breed
for one thing alone. If all sheep breeds were to
breed for mutton, then the entire wool trade would
be turned over to Australia, and this would raise the
price of wearing apparel, or turn the entire wool
business over to our Merino friends, and we all can
not afford to wear such fine clothing. Therefore in
order to gain a requisite amount of profit we must
raise a sheep that will combine both wool and mut
ton. If we drop the wool market, we arc losing
that which we should have, for If the wool pays for
the keeping, then we have the lamb as a profit
whlchjisgood Interest on our money, for illustration
take £100 In the fall, buy 'JO ewes for $7-., and one good
ram for $33, lu the spring you will have 30 lambs
worth $3 73 per head, which would be £73, which will
be 73 per cent on the money Invested. Now In the
fall you will have $30 worth of wool. Sheep breeders
can sell the mutton at the same price of beef, and
make more money, and the sheep do not tramp the
ground like cattle, and their fertilizing qualities are
better.
The Hon. Calvin Cowgill, of Wabash, read a
lengthy article on
HOW SHALL SHEEP HUSBANDRY RE MANAGED TO SUPPLY OUR HOME CONSUMPTION IN WOOL.
He began by reviewing the great sheep industry of
the State, aa well as the entire country.   He showed
by statistics the decrease iu the sheep market,  as
well as the price of wool.   He showed conclusively
that bj' proper management enough wool could be
grown In the country to supply the demand of manufactures.   He advocated the protection of the wool
traflic by a rigid tariff, thereby shutting off the importation of wool from other countries.   His address
was listened to with great interest and was discussed
by all members present.
AMERICA VS.  ENGLAND.
Jno. L. Thompson of Arcana, discussed the subject. Can the keeping of sheep be made as profitable
in America as In England? This subject was ably
handled by Mr. Thompson, who has made yearly
trips to England, and therefore Is welt versed upon
the subject. Among the many good thoughts he
advanced the following were noted: He first spoke
of the meaning of profit, what consists In profit.
Then be dwelt upon the cost of keeping sheep in
England, their pasture and the advantages that existed; the price of mutton and the only way to get a
good price for It was to have a good market. The
manure of the sheep was far better than any other
animal. The reason sheep husbandry failed in part
in this State was because It was not managed on
business principles. Glancing briefly at the past,
present und future of sheep husbandry, he gave
some good thoughts on the Improvement, on care
and management. We want better breeds; every
farmer should keep a small flock. It will be a good
investment, and bring him good returns. The cheap
price of land is no bar, for poor land can be made
good by having sheep to graze upon it. Have more
-iyfetem In your dock management, then let us learn
what to sell, when to sell, and how to sell. If these
three things be your motto, you will surely succeed.
EXPERT JUDGES.
Tbe following gentlemen were selected as expert
judges:
s. W. Dungan, Franklin; J. W. Kobe.Greencastle;
Cal Darnell, Indianapolis; T. C. Phelps, Greensboro; J. 11. Tomlinson, Fairlatid; Thos. Nelson
Uloomingdale.
PROGRAM 18-K).
President's address.
The  wool   and   mutton   Industry   of   the   United
States, S. W. Dungan, Franklin.
Care and   management of sheep as regards better
profits, 11. F. Ging. Star, lud.
The merits of Cotswold for wool and mutton, T. C.
Phelps, Greensboro.
What would  free wool   do?   A. C. Cotton, Traders
Point.
Crossing of sheep, J. M. Miller, Upland.
Diminishing  herds, J. N.  McCampbell,  Marshland.
■Shropshires the best sheep for the common farmer,
Marion Williams.
The papers on   Silos and ensilage,   by L. R. Skinner, and Depression of the wool  market, by Joshua
Strange, will appear in full, later.
At  the   election   of  o.tl cers   the   following  were
elected for the ensuing year:
President—I. N. Cotton.
Vice.president—Cal. Cowgill.
Secretary—J. W. Robe.
Treasurer—J. L. Thompson.
JEESET OATTLE BEEEDEES.
Eighth Annual Convention.
The eighth annual meeting ofthe Indiana Jersey
llreeders* Association held a one day's session in the
Agricultural rooms on the 17th Inst., and was called
to order by President Jenkins, at 11 a. m. The attendance was better than heretofore, and the Interest manifested, showed conclusively that the Jersey
people were wide awake as to their Interests. Though
few in numbers, no association in the state can
show a better record than the Jersey breeder when It
comes to making a display of their products, they
pride themselves in their butter making art and are
always ready to come to the front when called upon.
The morning session was occupied in Introduction
and greeting, and the entering of butter for awards.
At the afternoon session, the program was carried
out, the first on the program being the
president's address.
Sevcral events have transpired in the Jersey
world-since we last met iu our annual meeting,
which have tended to raise lu tin. estimation of
ev.*ry Jersey breeder the value of this'breed of
cows, As the boys say, "Things are coming our
way.* Numerous public auction sales have been
held Jnd ffcrent parts of the country, ami while, us
is usual in such instances, the poor ones have sold
at low prices, the good ones have averaged up well.
Ry glancing over the list of transfers we find that
abont 11,000 Jerseys have changed ownership during
tho year, being about the same as last year, and
about 1,000 more than in 1SS7. The last volume
(XXX) of the Herd Register,issued last year,shows
the total number of females registered for lHn. to be
5,-K.., exactly tbe same number as for 1888; and
males l.JWO.a total of 7,939 head; a falling offof4oo
in the bulls.
The great event of the year perhaps has been tbe
sale of the Oaklands Herd, containing the famous
Mary Anne of St. Lambert, and her daughter, Marianne Pogis, besides others, only less famous tban
they are. The result was looked to as a crucial test
of the real status of Jerseys before the world and
was certainly entirely satisfactory. Indeed it was
a remarkable sale, all things considered, the best
ever made.
Mr. Fuller's cattle averaged over $000 apiece, and
the highest price of the year was reached at this
sale, $3,300. The great butter cow, Mary Anne of St.
Lambert, sold for $3,100. This is In sharp contrast
with a 34 pound cow of the Holstein breed that sold
at public auction for $800. After this, the largest
prices were reached In the regular annual sales of
Tennessee.
Rut the feature In this direction of tho year has
been the number of private sales made at good
prices.   And this brings us to the
BUTTER TESTS OF JERSEY COWS.
Eighty-three Jersey cows entered tho 14 pound
standard list in the past year. The highest record
being the 31 pounds 9 oz., made by the cow Mrs.
Knickerbocker, owned by Jas. Still man, Esq. Fourteen of the 83 cows made 30 pounds in seven days,
and while no phenomenal yield of butter has been
made by any one cow, breeders are better satisfied
with the result.   More 14 pound cows.
Tbe reputation of the Jersey cow has been won by
the tests she has made. Cows of this breed have
been tested oftener than those of all other breeds
put together, and the tests have been made with the
utmost care, andunder every practicable precau
tion to prevent either error or fraud in the results.
So tested the Jersey cow has proved herself incomparably (-superior to all others, botb as to tbe quantity and quality of her butter. So identified with the
test has she become that it may be spoken of as ft
Jersey institution, Introduced and kept up by her.
While the number of tests reported does not equal
last year's reports, and the largest Is not so great by
two pounds there Is one feature made prominent
this year tbat marks au important gain for the Jerseys in the public mind, that is the bringing out In
strong relief and establishing by every test, whether
of science or common practico, tlie fact that the
Jersey cow can put a pound of butter into a smaller
quantity of milk than any other cow in the world.
In other words, tho most noted t .-sts of 1889 have
beon directed, not to finding out how much butter,
but the ratio of milk to butter. This Idea has spread
beyond the tests and has formed a prominent feature in tho butter conferences that have attracted
so much attention, especially in New York. It Is
essentially a Jersey Idea.
The weather gets very warm In tho South in midsummer, but It was exceedingly "hot" in and about
Columbus, Tenn., at times the past season. I refer
to the tests of the cow Toltec's Fancy. Tbat there
was an attempt made to throw discredit on all the
largo Jersey tests, by trying to prove that the milk
of no breed of cows was rich enough in fats to produce the amount of butter claimed to have been
made by the Jersey is to my mind a certainty.
The Jersey breed, through the last lest of Toltec's
Fancy, has proven beyond any cavil that It contains
cows that give milk so rich that less than 5 pounds
of U will make a pound of butter; milk which is almost pur;* ereain.
This richness of milk or largo production of butter
cannot be obtained by every Jersey cow; neither is
there any great number of AxtolIsorSunoIs. These
butler tests and richness of milk un. found only In
tbis breed of cows. It is not worth while to challenge a comparison of theso records. If there havo
been any butter tests made of ojber breeds of dairy
Cows, I have not seen them ; except a few tests made
by the Holsteins. ■
Another step forward In this d! recti on, are the ro"
ports of the work of whole herds for a year, or for a
mouth. One has but to.look at tlie records, to find
that very many Jersey dairymen keep actual record
of the work of each cow ; and of tho whole herd ; and
in every Instance the result is satisfactory.
In butter tests at fairs, whero no butter is made
the Jersey Is usually beaten ; but when butter is actually made by the churn andweighed by thoscales,
the only true te*.t, as lhat Is the way It is made and
goes onto the market, "our Jersey" always comes
out ahead.
Concerning high tests and high feeding, I will say
that nothing has occurred to change my opinion
from last year's. 1 am still in favor of high tests
(forced testsi, but not to the Injury of tho cow or
race. Seven-day tests are good guides as to what a
cow will do; "JO days are bottor and the yearly tests
toll exactly the capacity of any cow. Feed well,
food high if you will, always keeping on this sido of
the danger line. Train your cows to «ivo all tho
rich milk and make all the butter they aro capable
of by feeding rich food in proper proportions, which
is easily determined by any practical farmer or
dairyman. Tbe Jersey cow can bo pushed to ber
full capacity without injury and be made to yield
the maximum amount of good butter, or sho can be
left to plod along aud barely make her expenses.
Test your cows at home; see how much butter ouch
will make for one day, one week, one month and
year; how many pounds of milk to the pound of
butter, and how much feed it takes to do it.
If critics hold np their bands in holy horror at the
result, keep on with the work just tho same. Tho
power of tho Jersey cow to produce butter in large
quantities, economically. Is her salvation, ami 1
might say the salvation of the dairy. Tlie private tests of tbe Jersey cows will not down; tlio
"hellabaloo" raised about tlie honesty of these records only served ns a stimuleut. It attracted tbe
attention of many who would not otherwi*-.** have
noticed them and the careful observer will also
havo noticed that some of those fellows who
were loudest iu denouncing Jersey butter tests are
quietly falling into lino.
The most Important lesson of last your, related to
tlie ratio of milk to butter. It has long been known
that It took less Jersey miik to make a pound of butter, than of any other milk known; but ft was only
during last year that systematic efforts were mado
to learn tbo comparative richness of milk from different herds representing different breeds. This has
been a prominent point in the reports of butter conferences of New York, as made by Col. Curtis. At
every conference It was found that there was a wide
difference between herds, as to the amount of milk
to tlie pound of butter, lu every instance in whic
there wore Jerseys or Jersey grades in the herds
tho ratio of butter In tho milk was very markedly
increased. This Is of course as Jersey breeder-
would expect it to bo. Thoso uniform results will
unquestionably prove of benefit to tiie breed, tend
to render it more popular with dairymen. This, as
operating to increase tho market for Jerseys, is a
matter of interest for all breeders, but my purpose
at present Is to point to these results as a lesson
from which Jersey breeders should profit.
Itis fast coming lobe the rule lo measure the
valuo of milk by its solid contents and especially by Its fats. It is in this quality that
Jersey milk most excels. Rut all Jersey milk is
not equally rich; in some, thebutterln the milk is
only as one to   twenty, while  in some itis   as one
Continued otl page I.