VOL. XXIX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.  JAN., 13, 1894.
NO.2.
_im ~motU.
' The Boston Commercial Bulletin has
obtained statistics and returns from all
sections of the United States, which show
that 1893 produced the greatest number of
pounds of wool yet made in this country
Jn any one year, viz., 364,156,666 pounds,
as against the previous largest in 1883, of
5537,500,000 pounds. It also shows that
there was an increase of the slaughter of
sheep in 1893 of 40 per cent. The fall of
prices on wool-since last March has been
one-third.
] The annual meeting of the Dorset Horn
sheep breeders' association was held in
New York a few days ago, with 65 members present. The sheep recorded number
4,157. Mr. T. S. Cooper, Coopersburg, Pa.,
was elected president, and M. A. Cooper,
Washington, Pa., re-elected secretary and
treasurer. A Dorset lamb was served at
the annual banquet, and W. E. Kimsey, of
Angola, Indiana was among those delivering addresses. Mr. K., is a prominent breeder of the Dorsets.
\ DELAINE "WOOL ASSOCIATION.
i A new sheepibreeders' association has
just been organized in Noble county, Ind.
The leading movers in it are Geo. Huntsman, John H. Ward, U. C. Brouse, John
-Melvin and other weathy sheep breeders.
jTheyhave formed an organization to be
-(known as tho Indiana National Dickinson
"' Delaine Wool, Mutton and Merino Sheep
sj Breeders'Association.   The purpose of it
'' is to further develop the industry and to
register the pedigrees of the shoep.   Noble
county breeders have secured every prize
at the county and district fairs in that part
t>f the country, and  have taken lirst and
iecond prizes at the world's fair.   The latter was the main  cause  for forming the
association.   Officers were elected and the
ijew organization  starts  off   with  good
promise of sucdess.   We hope soon to have
from the secretary of the new association
an article on the Delaine breed and proposed scope of the new organization.
X. r^________________T-_--------_-__^^"~!
THE SHEEP   AND   WOOL GBOWEHS' AN
f NTJAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of this association
wtbs held at the State House in this city
last week, and was well attended. Great
interest was shown in the future outlook
for this industry, in view, of what is going
on at Washington. The president, J. F.
Tomlinson, of Fairland, had been prostrated with sickness, but partially recovered was present, and opened the meeting
with an address, among other things he
said:
;. "Shall we continue to raise sheep?   This
is the question in the minds of sheep farmers at the present time.    Perhaps  the
prices of sheep and lamb?, have declined in
the principal  markets  33 per cent in the
'last two  years,    and  25  per  cent in the
last year.   The  price of  wool has also de-
i clined,  especially  on   fine  wool  grades.
Many  sheep  raisers  have  fallen  into a
panic. Many have reduced their herds,and
my opinion is that one-half the farmera in
Indiana have sold their flocks.   There is a
stagnation of the wool  Industry.   From
^1882 to  1892 the  Australian wool product
■increased  from  993,000 to  1,750,000 bales,
.-while the prices  fell $80 to $60.50 per bale,
iwith  the prospect  of a still  further de-
j crease.   The recent drouth and other em-
\ barrassinents have caused an unloading of
j the farmers on the  market.   The receipts
{of sheep at  Chicago  in  11 months have
.been  2,804,747  head,    but   in   1893   this
number    it    is     thought    will    reach
3,050,000.   In    1893  about  1,000,000  more
sheep   were  handled   at   Chicago    than
in 1892."
" President Tomlinson further urged that
the sheep industry is bound to be cared
for as other great interests are, and there
fore farmers should not sell their flocks,
but hold on to them and continue to improve them. Other addresses on various
topics were made, some of which we hope
to publish soon, among them an able one
by J. A. Mount of Montgomery county,
on the future outlook of husbandry.
Among other things Mr. Mount said:
"In the   National   Congress  measures
are  now pending,    upon    the  decision
of    which,    in    a    large    degree    depends     the    future    profit     of    wool
growing in this country.   The Wilson bill
now pending proposes to open our markets
to the free  importation of  foreign wools
Take from this industry the 1,020,000 flock
masters; take the $400,000,000  invested|in
flocks, grazing lands, barns, etc:, turn the
attention of these flock masters, and utilize this capital in growing more grain, cattle,  horses,   etc., and to  the  already low
prices you will  add increased stagnation.
The supply of these products is now in ex
cess of the  demand in all  the markets of
the world.   Hence  every  farmer in  the
land will feel the ruinous effect of any law
that cripples or destroys sheep husbandry.
"But the  question is  often asked, what
have the  farmers of the  United States to
fear from foreign wool growers?
.   "We answer  emphatically,  nothing, if
conditions were equal.   Give to our wool-
growers what  Great Britain  gives to the
Australian wool growers and we will ask
no greater  favor.   Give  us free land and
exemption from taxation and we will become exporters of wool. This country cannot give  us free land; it cannot exempt
our  flocks from taxation.   It can, however, and every consideration of economic
wisdom and justice demands that the present system of protection should  be maintained.
"The results attending the fostering care
of sheep husbandry in Australia have been
marvelous. In 1860 but 13,000,000 sheep
increased to 119,924,962 in 1891. (See page
103, Consular Keport.) The increase of the
last 11 years equals the aggregate of our
Hocks at this time. Those who argue that
wool was higher in price prior to 1S60 than
in recent years will find the reason in the
wonderful increase in the world's number
of sheep and product of wool. The world's
production of wool in 1860 was 950,000,000
pounds, increased, in 1891, to 2,450,773,600
pounds.
"South American wool growers are afforded conditions for cheap production of
w-o-1 fir superior to that offered our farmers in this county, and with flocks aggregating nearly double our own, and exporting near 400,000,000 pounds of wool annually, is another factor potent lor evil if
wool is admitted free.
"The increase in the number of sheep in
the United States from 1850 to I860, a
period of low tariff, was from 21,700,000 to
22,000,000, or less than one-fifth of 1 per
cent per annum. The increase during 10
years of high tariff, from 1870 to 1880, was
from 28,500,000 to 42,400,000, an increase of
45 por cent, or 4J4 per cent annually. The
increase in the clip of wool for the same
period was even more marked, being from
103,000,000 pounds to 264,000,000 pounds.
"Under the tariff law of 1890 sheep husbandry has taken a new impetus, and 1892
showed a gain of 2,335,188 sheep.
"In 1S60 there were 1,263 woolen mills in
the United States, with a capacity of $30,-
922,654, consuming S3,60S,468 pounds of
wool, paying in wages to 43,738 employes
$10,153,938, and yielding a product of $65,-
596 361. In 1880 factories had increased to
2,689, with a capital of $159,091,869, paying
in wages to 161,575 employes $47,389,087,
with an annual product of $267,252,913,
Factories more than doubled; capital increased more than five-fold, giving employment to four times as many^hands,
with an annual product  * J        ""
than $200,000,000.
"I have dealt at length with the economic
side of this subject.   I have endeavored to
present the environments at home and the
conditions abroad that have to do with the
wool interests of  our country.   It is not
necessary  to    acquaint    the   intelligent
sheep husbandman with these facts and
the trend of the sheep  interest.   Prices of
wool, the saorifice of Hocks, sounds the
note of alarm. .The pendulum is  now
swinging to the reverse side of this industry.   The  momentum  that  will   be acquired in the extreme reverse sweep will
rebound in its favor.  I predict that in less
than five years prosperity  will again  return  to the  flock  masters.   The  farmer
who sells his flock  at ruinous prices  will
be in the market as purchaser when the
pendulum  has vibrated to the other extreme.   The American people possess too
much wisdom and patriotism to  see  the
destruction of this great  agricultural industry.     The intelligent farmer realizes
that to secure the best results in farming,
sheep husbandry is indispensable.
The consumption of wool in the United
States in 1840 was but 76,796,130 pounds, or
four and one-halt pounds per capita. In
1890, 548,398,374 pounds, or nine pounds
per capita. The consumption of mutton
per capita has increased at a far greater
ratio. We now consume over 12,000,000
sheep annually. It would require near
100,000,000 sheep to supply the demands of
our market for woolen wares, eto. We
should have  on our Indiana farms 4,000,-
000 sheep instead of le.s than one-third
that number. Our farms, as a result,
would be richer, more inviting in appearance, and the profits  would be  increased.
1 shall continue to grow sheep, combining
wool and mutton. If legislation is adverse
I shall endeavor to meet the adversity
with more intense determination to succeed, inspired with the belief that no policy adverse to this great industry can long
survive in this country.
The following resolutions were passed
by the association unanimously:
"Whereas, A tariff bill has beon introduced in Congress, known as the Wilson
bill, which grossly discriminates against
the farming interests by placing on the
free list 29 of the finished products of the
farm, which 29 articles are now protected
by fair and equitable duties, and also making a large reduction in the duties, now
properly assessed, on 21 other finished
products of the farm; therefore, be it
"llesolved, That we denounce said Wilson bill as unjust, unwise and uncalled
for, and we invite farmers everywhere,
from Maine to California, to ~oin us in denouncing said Wilson bill, and, regardless
of former party affiliations to join us in
pledging ourselves to vote against any
man who shall vote for or favor the Wilson bill or any similar measure.
"Resolved, Tbat a copy of these resolutions be sent to each of our Senators and
Representatives in Congress."
The following officers were elected by
the Wool-Growers:
President—J. F. Tomlinson, Fairland.
"Vice-president—C. F. Darnell, Indianapolis.
Secretary—J. W. Robe, Greencastle.
Treasurer—J. L. Thompson, Marion.
upon our   Congressmen  and  Senators to
oppose said bill.
Mr. I. N. Cotton said: "Our whole
structure of political and social economy
rests upon the prosperity of the farmers.
When the farming interests of our country are prosperous the whole is prosperous to the same degree; but on the other
hand, smite the farmer with poverty and
it is immediately felt throughout the entire land. Every industry, every home
every individual feels the blow that takes
from the farmer his prcduce at a price that
is not adequate for the labor involved in
its production."
increased more
INDIANA AGBICULTUBAL AND BBEED-
EBS' ASSOCIATION.
Last week during the several meetings
of the agricultural and breeders' associations, a jointsession of them all was called,
at which Hon. Calvin Cowgill, of Wabash
county presided. After several addresses
the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, It is proposed in the
Wilson bill, now pending before
Congress, to place on the free list
29 of the finished products of the farm
which are now protected by equitable
duties, and
Whereas, The same bill gives many
manufacturers 40 per cent protection, now,
therefore be it
Resolved, That we condemn the gross and
unjust discrimination against the farming
interests manifest in that bill, and we call
Letter From Illinois.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
* The annual meeting of tho Illinois Sheep
Breeders'Association held in Springfield,
January 3, was not largely attendee., the
meeting of the State Board of Agriculture
in an adjacent hall, for the purpose of opening bids for the permanent location of
the Illinois State Fair, proving a greater
attraction to many.
The following officers were elected:
President—C. I. Pulliam, Chatham.
Vice-president—W. T. Potts, Jacksonville.
Secretary and treasurer—John G.
Springer, Springfield.
Executive Committee—Hon. David
Gore, Carlinville; S. E Prather, Springfield; R. J. Stone, Stonington; Hairy Cass,
B-Jflalo Hart.
After a general discussion the following
points seemed to be conceded:
R*>ms under one year old should not be
used because their offspring are nearly always weak. Yearlings will get as many
and as stroDg lambs as older ones, if not
required to serve loo many ewes.
The best time to have lambs come is in
January and February if prepared to take
care of them, otherwise at a later period
when the weather is milder.
Lambs should be sent to market in Jnne
and July, weighing about 70 pound?, and
should bring about $6 each, though at
present this price is not realized.
Feed hay—second growth clover preferred—oil meal and bran, or hay, oats and
ground corn will be found excellent.
Unequal feeding will cause spots of good
and bad wool; impure quarters and feeding too much corn will cause loss of wool.
Rpgular and plenty of feed is required to
make wool. "Free wool" advocates wero
largely in the minorits*.
The Illinois State Board of Agriculture
opened bids at Springfield, January 3, for
the permanent location of the State Fair.
Bids were filed by the cities of SpriDgfield,
Peoria, Bloomington and Decatur, all offering at least 109 acres of land, $50,000 in
cash and other requirements of proposals
for bids. The board will now visit the
cities, inspect the sites offered and make
their decision at a future day. Springfield
seems in the lead, its offering being 154
acres of land, about 50 acres more than by
tho other cities, and this to include the
present Sangamon county grounds with
buildings and improvamonts, with $50,000.
The race track, one mile, one of the best
in the United States is on these grounds.
J. G. S.
gwimc gcimt'lmcttt.
INDIANA SWINE BBEEDEBS.
The 17th annual meeting of this association was held here last week. Sixty good
and tried breeders of swine assembled in
the sgricultural rooms, State House on
Thursday, Jan. 5th, for the discussion of
topics pertaining to their particular business. Promptly at 10 o'clock President
Cunningham of Loree, called the meeting
to order and after the calling of the roll by
Secretary Barnett of Logansport and the
reading of the report by Mr. Harvey, of
Continued, on van* S.