VOL. XXII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY,   FEB. 5,1887.
NO. tf.
%mt Sfosfo.
INDUSTRIAL COJVESTIOJS.
Proceedings of Indiana Breeders of
Sheep, Cattle, Swine and Horses.
Annual Meetiugs.Report of Addresses,
1)1 cusslons, Etc.
WOOL GROWERS.
The Indiana Wool Growers' Association
met in annual session, Tuesday, January
25, according to program, with president
Thomas Nelson in the chair. On account
of the death of the seoretary, Mr. 1. J. Farquhar, whioh occurred last July, J. W.
Robe performed the duties of that office.
There were present about 20 of the members of the association,—not a large convention, but more enthusiastic and full of
hope than they have been at any time
since 1883, the year of the reduction in
tariff. The discussions and remarks during the whole of the meeting evidenced
the fact that sheep breeders are encouraged
by the present outlook for their business
and are gratified at the steady advance In
the valne of wool and mutton during the
past year. The opening address was made
by the president, Thomas Nelson, of
Bloomingdale.
president's  address,
Mr. Nelson expressed pleasure at the
courage that has upheld the membership
of the association through a period of adversity. "To-day a healthier demand exists at fairly remunerative prioes for the
products of sheep husbandry. The prices of wool have advanced at least 25 per
cent, since our last meeting, and that of
mutton in about the same ratio. While
the demand for wool is not strong it is
firm, and indications are for remunerative prices for the forthcoming clip. The
fl ocks of the State are in reasonably healthy
condition, and the possessor of a flock of
an improved breed is to-day a happy man.
We desire above all things that there
should be no more agitation on the subject
of tariff on wool?.
"We compare favorably, as to prosperity,
with swine and cattle breeders, who are
harassed by diseases and scourges. During
the past season a somewhat unusual demand has existed for our medium wool
from foreign countries, England and
France. The climate of our country is
perhaps, next to that of England and
Scotland, the best on the globe for the
production of medium wool. Australia's
climate is too dry for medium wools, and
her competition cannot hurt us. Hence,
I take lt, Indiana will be likely to find
good sales for all the medium wool that
her flocks oan produce. We shonld pursue the even tenor of our way and continue in improvement and progress."
The report of tbe treasurer was then
heard, showing a balance of fll 60 in the
treasury.
An address was presented by
s  w. DUNOAN,
of Franklin, on the subject, "Social Relations among Breeders Necessary to Advancement."   He prefaced his paper with
the observation that man is by nature a
gregarious animal. There is an inevitable
tendency to segregation. The family
grows to tbe tribe, and tribe to nation.
We forfeit liberty, sunshine and pure air,
to congregate in cities, and the great obstacle to temperance in this country is
that men driuk socially. Our social nature
affects our character in that it is affected
by our companions. The man who has
most friends is perhaps tbe happiest man.
Three Johnson county wool growers once
had a custom of meeting occasionally to
compare notes and learn from each other's
experience. They found these social meetings pleasant and profitable, and concluded
to form a county association. Ten or
twelve breeders met the first time, and in
time the county meetings spread to other
counties, and at length, in 1876, a State
convention was called. There were four
breeders present at that first State convention. They held a short meeting, and from
this beginning our present association has
grown. In four years the membership
rose to nearly 150.
Mr, Dungan is the only member of tbe
association who attended its first meeting
and was one of the three Johnson count.*,
breeders who originated the idea of a wool
growers' association. He expressed his
conviction that the social relations developed by mutual Intercourse had done
more to advance tbe interests of the society than any other one cause.
Mr. Dungan's address was followed by a
short speech by
DR. R   T. BROWN,
of the Indiana Farmer.   He said:
I never neglect wool growers' associations. I was born a shepherd, and one of
my earliest recollections was of a lamb in
February, 1812, at the time of the earthquake. The sheep is the most sociable of
domestic animals, and living with them
cultivates the social nature. The shepherd's life seems to be solitary, but it
teaches sociability and friendliness. In
spite of masy discouragements in late
years, I think that Amerioa is destined to
be a great wool producer. No other one
oountry can produce any kind or any
quality of wool. We have elevated regions, dry pastures, mountains, etc , and
can produce fine, middle or long wool at
p'easure. When we fill our own markets,
in other articles, we cannot always export
them. But In wool we cannot produce
enough for our home use. Wool is the
best material for clothing—winter and
summer—and we can use all we can produce and more.
A paper on "The Signs of the Times"
was read by _
NIXON HENLEY,
of Monrovia, of which the following is an
abstract:
We find some new contingencies have
arisen during the past few years. One, at
least, results from the change of administration, causing unemployed capital, idle
labor, high interest and low wages. As to
wool and mutton, to go back to the begin-
ing of the year, the market opened in January '86, quiet, with moderate stock on
hand, and with some foreign goods underselling us. In May the early wools of the
South and West commanded unusually
high prions. From May 15 h to June 1st
was depression, caused by decline in foreign markets.   The reaction   came  about
June 1st to July 1st and caused firmness
In the American market. Prices steadily
advanced from June 1st te July 15th. By
August 1st wool was mostly out of growers'
hands. Considering that prices have
steadily advancjd, and all grades in about
tbe same ratio, and also that during the
depression, many fl icks were sold or culled
leaving the better class of sheep, it is
thought that the prospect is favorable.
To be successful at present prices we
mnst have the best stock, well oared for,
and must produce good wool and the
highest priced mutton.
Remarks.
J. L Thompson, Arcana: I find more
inquiries now for rams and ewes than at
any time for four or five years past. People are finding that there is money in a
good sheep. I find swine breeders, whose
hogs have died with holera, breeding
sheep with which to stock up their farms.
I have let out some of my sheep on shares
to keep up my supply. That is, I put a
few sheep in the hands of a responsible
farmer with the understanding that the
produce is to be equally divided and the
old sheep returned to me in one year, or
if he is to keep them for three years, the
entire flock is divided at the end of that
time. Hog cholera has led many farmers
to feed sheep instead of hogs this winter
and mutton has to some extent taken the
place of pork. We have fed 370 wethers
this winter which have made a gain of
seven pounds eaoh since November last.
Considering tho advance in price we have
already made money on them, and expect
to make more. We have fed them shock
corn, thrown upon sod ground, with plenty of water, straw and salt. The best way
is to feed them in stables, where it can be
done, but even in the rough way we employ our oorn makes us about $ 1.00 per
bushel, turned into mutton.
I. N. Cotton, Trader's Point: I know
of no way by which we oan buy
sheep in tbe fall and sell In the spring at
the same price per pound and make
money. If made at all it must be by increase in price.
Mr. Nelson: There is always an ad-
vac <• 3 in price, and it is due to the improvement in tbe quality of tbe mutton.
J. B Conner, of the Indiana Farmer.
I wish to speak of an economic point in
sheep husbandry, which seems to have
been overlooked by the writer of the paper. It is stated that the rise in price is
due in part to the selling out of flocks,
here and elsewhere, caused by the unprofitableness of the bnsiness. It is not
the way to restore a healthy price by destroying a per cent of the article. You
oannot depend an always receiving good
prioes for wool and mutton if those prioes
have keen made by a destruction of a part
of the stock in hand. The decline following the reduction of tariff in '83 was
probably as much the result ofa scare as
anything else and now there is a fear of
agitating the subjeot again as itmay again
produce similar results, but my opinion is
that it has only been the constant appeals
to congress, from some quarters, tojresi.ore
the tariff of '67 that has prevented them
from taking it off altogether and putting
wool on the free list.
Mr. Daily, of "Vigo County: I stable my
sheep, with separate pens for each
kind, and   feed  them  in  a rack  board
ed over, except at the bottom, to keep the
hay from getting into the wool.
JOHN m'oauohey,
of Gallaudet,   presented a paper on "The
Common Farmer  as a Mutton  and Wooj
Grower."   He said:
The majority of farmers do not raise
sheep, and their strongest objection is
that there is no profit in It. That is the fact,
if lt is conducted in their way. If this is
true, they are wise to keep hands oft. If
not, it is some one's duty to demonstrate
in a practical way that when conducted in
the right way it oan be made a success.
To make wool growing general among
farmers you must show them that it is
profitable. The great trouble is that few
know how to manage their flocks. Neglected, unsheltered, unfed, there is no
wonder there is no profit. Sbeep can live
on rough food, and little of it, but will respond readily to good treatment. The
average fleece weighs 4 pounds and a little over, and the average weight of a mutton is 50 pounds. The difference between
this and a 10 pound 11 eeoe and 75 pound
carcass, as good grades will yield, will
show where some of the profit can come
in. Some complain that a sick sheep cannot be restored, and that a small dog oan
worry many sheep to death j sheep de
not or cannot take care of themselves,
and there is consequently great danger of
loss by disease and accident. All this oan
be prevented by proper care, and no sheep
breeder need lose much from these causes.
Mr. McGaughey gave anacoountof some
failures in sheep husbandry some of his
neighbors had made, and pointed out the
means by which their losses could hav.
been avoided by proper attention.
The president called for an expression
of opinion as lo the advisability of removing the State fair grounds to a more convenient location, but a resolution on the
subject was tabled without expressing any
opinion. Robt. Mitchell, of Princeton,
opposed any change, asserting that the
present location is as convenient as any
other would be for both exhibitor and visitor, that nothing would be gained by railroad communication, that there was no
particular crowding on the street cars or
on the grounds and that a fair wasn't
worth a oent anyhow if you didn't have
to force yourself Into it by main strength.
J. L Thompson stated that while the
grounds might be better and larger and
more convenient, still, by paying a hack-
man, an exhibitor could transport hia
stock through the oity without much
trouble. Mr. Herkless thought we ought
to have more room at the present location,
as unquestionably the present grounds
are not large enough for the purpose.
MORTIMER LEVERING,
of Lafayette, addressed the meeting on the
"Distinguishing Characteristics of South-
downs, Oxforddowns, and Hampshire-
downs." His address was of great interest
to the expert, describing minutely the
various points of difference and the characteristics of each class that are moat
valued.
C   A   HOWLAND,
of this city was on the program for a paper
on "Grazing Different Kinds of Stook Together." He favors the practice, under
proper circumstances, but is careful not
(Continued on page 4.)