The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-28
NOT WILD BUT WO0LLY
THE MEN TALKING WOODWORKING.
The Mutton Raisers of the State Meet and
Listen TO Papers Upon Subjects of Inter-
est-PreSident Cotton the
Tarin-Other Meetings.

About fifty Rgrlcu lturists who are inter-
ested In the fleece and mutton product of
the state assembled Wednesday afternoon
at the horticultural rooms OF the state
house. The meeting was called to order
"a O'Clock BY President |. N. Cotton Of
Tl aders' Point, whieJ. w. Robe OF Green
caA lie acted as secretary.
n 'esident Cotton then read his annual
addn ess, in which he alluded to the rapid
grow4 and popularity Of sheep farming in
the st ate, and stated that during the past
year the number of fiocks mad nearly been
doubled He regarded the tendency of the
time as favOring specialties, and accord
inelv a Il lrmer should breed either for
mutton q wool, but could hardly expect
TO find a sheep in which both qualities
were units'd in supreme degree. he be-
lieved that If the nun Der of sheep now IN
the country could be doubled the importa-
+ion Of foreign wool would no longer be
necessary. He advocated that the asso-
citation prese Mt resolu ions to the general
assembly ask ing for more stringent dog
law. and Also for a quail law which
should be pr ohibitOry for the next four
years.
The second paper was read by the Hon.
A. V. Pendlet ON of Nineveh, who dis
cussed the "Wc'ol and Mutton Industry"
of the United States. The number OF
sheep has stead Oily increased with each
census from 1900, 600 in 1910 to As, GOO. 600
in 1890. During the same period the az
erage weight of the fleece has increased
from two pounds 70 six. In the Eastern
and Middle states the number OF sheep is
decreasing, and in r.he Central states, east
e -, he 1har ms
the same. while the Southern states and
the states west of the Mississippi show a
rapid increase in this branch of industry,
while on the Pacific slope 1t has grown 10
marvellous proportions. The reader at
tributed the abandonment of farms in the
New England states to the decline of the
sheen industry in that re ion, and he be-
Eeved that farmers in Indiana should raise
more sheep ami less hogs and hominy.
He also haniled the fallacious protect
i've tariff question on wool in an earnest
wav. He declared that the condition OF the
sheep industry was the same under low
or high tariii, and that it Ill became the
farmers TO ask special legi-lation OF TO ask
the eyis of a pro ective tariff for wool
and thus demand relief from trusts and
combines. From his personal experience,
he showed that sheep could be ralsei 80
per cent cheaper than hogs or 30 per
cent cheaper than cattle.
The merits OF the Cotswold and Shrop-
shire varieties Of sheep were respectively
discussed in excellent papers by [. G..
Phelps Of GreensbOrOugh and Marion Will
Jams OF Muncie. Each believed hisspe ial
breed the best general purpose sheep
that could possibly be raised. The dis
cussions that followed showed that the
members held many conflicting opinions
IL. 4 hoH
his preference and advocated his favorite
breed in an earnest manner.
By general consent the chair appointed
Uriah Privett, G. A. Rowland and L. s
Thompson a committee on program, and
Messrs Rowe, Beeler and Rowland on the
presidents address.
The closing session of the association
will be held this morning, when the COM
mitteeo on legislation will report; b. F. Cling
of Star will read a paper, and officers will
be elected for the ensuing year.
At the morning session OF the wool
growers Thurs lay the committee on legis-
lation, through its chairman, joshua
Strange, reported a stringent dog law,
which required al dogs to be registered
and taxed, and all the ''curs" not so CLASH
fed might be summarily dealt with. The
law was referred to the committee for
some minor changes, and will then be
presented to the general assembly. Mr.
Strange then grapp ed with the s ate board
OF agriculture question, and said he did
not believe that changes should be too
radical. Accordingly he introduced the
following compromise resolution, which
was adopted by the association:
Resolved. That the act of 1852. creating a
state board OF agriculture, be so amended that
representatives from the state industrial
associations the Commercial club and board
Of trade be admitted TO the delegate board.
An interesting paper was read by l. y.
Miller. of Upland, on the quest on of the
production OF best wool and mutton
sheep and the best cross breed of sheep
He advocated a cross between cotswald
and southdown as the best animal
Thetofficers selected for the ensuing
wear were: G.. A. Rowland, president; J..
r. Tomlinson. of Falkland, vice-president
J. w. Robe, of Greencastle, secretary; j.
i. Thompson, of Marion, treasurer.