, 1901-01-02

fashion in fabrics. and the wool grower
has willingly bent his energies toward
breeding to meet such requirements.
1t cannot be said that every change has
been an improvement, but the result
of breeders efforts on the whole has
been distinctly favorable.
1T is only necessary to go back a
few years and make comparisons to
prove the absolute truth of this asser-
ton and the point has been made with
much force. hat during the last half
of the century there has been a doub-
ling of the weight of fleece. a greater
variety of wool. and much better adap-
tations to the requirements of manu-
facturers, and consumers Of wooden
goods.
las types of wool bearing sheep, the
Merino and the so-called English sheep
appear. according to recen statistics,
to be far in the lead. the former pre-
dominating in the range country, the
latter in the arming states.
Cooperation Suggested.
The greater variety Of our climatic
conditions is wonderfully favorable to
the production of all kinds and grades
OF wool, and it is not surprising that
no other woods make more desirable
clothing. Under these conditions the
contention is well made that manufac-
turers know that their prosperity de-
ponds upon a full domestic wool sup
ply, and should cooperate with the
growers in encouraging the production
of wool to meet all ordinary require
ments Of clothing. American wool con-
sumption should be mainly of Ameri-
can production, and with the hearty
cooperation of the manufacturer the
wool grower car be expected to in
crease the varieties and quantity of his
product, and thus meet every demand
that may be made upon him. There
can be no doubt that our tiocks are
less in number than they were in 1893
or even ten years prior to that time,
but 1t is also true that they are now
increasing rapidly and | believe Hlat
within a few years they will surpass
any previous figures. Already the wool
grower is striving to meet a diversified
demand, and If manufacturers desire a
selection from all the woods of the
world they will soon find practically
every variety of real value without go
ing out Of the country. This point is
well enforced by a list published in a
recent bulletin of the department of
agriculture showing the existence of
more than twenty-five different breed
ing n associations covering practically
all the desirable grades of wool. In
this connection the wool exhibit at the
Paris exposition just closed was a
wonderful exemplication of the extent
to which the wool growing industry
in the United States has been diver.
sitied. These exhibits afford the
greatest proof of the variety and high
character of American woods, and indi.
cate that it is within the power of the
American wool grower to produce prac-
tically any grade that the manufac-
turer may demand.
Future Grazing Ground.
1T is natural that there should be a
decline of tlocks in the thickly Set
tied sections of the east. This is due
to the fact that eastern farming lands
are more valuable for other uses; the
proximity of cities has created a heavy
demanded for small farm products
more profitable than grazing, etc. The
The south has never been an ideal wool
growing region, but there has been nc
great falling off in that section in re-
cent years. There has, however, been
a very decided increase in the focks
in the so-called prairie states west Of
the Mississippi river, and in the range
country west Of the prairies where
sheep raising Is Il Of the principA
Industries, and an important factor In
the wealth of the country. Not only
are the tiocks increasing In size, but
the sheep raisers are devoting them
selves to breed improvements for the
production Of mutton as well as the
growing Of WOOL"