The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-21
SHEEP AND WOOL
 CONFERENCE CALLED
IMPROVEMENT OF FARM AND RANCH METHODS TO BE
 DISCUSSED.

Washington May 20.-The secretary of asricu'ture has issued a call for a public conference of persons inter- csted in the sheep and wool industry, to be held ia' Washington June ?, 8 and 4 Among the topics suggested by the secretary for discussion are the manufacturing value Of American wools: the improvement of farm and ranch methods of handling wool; the possible adaptation of foreign meth ods to American conditions; the stan dardization of the wool clip; and the prevention of damage by dogs and predatory animals
 The high qua ity Of American wools wlen properly put up, is generally recognized by our manufacturers. but SO little attention is paid to the care of American wool a shearing time that it usually sells for less than its req value. and frequently suffers by comparison with foreign wool Such practices as the indscriminate sack ing of wool regardless of kind or col- dition the use of improper twine, and the use of insoluhle paint for marking sheep cause really unnecessary eX- pense aad loss in manufacturing which has been yariously estimated at from , to 20 per cent of the origl. nal value of the wool, and for which the producer must pay by being com pelled to accept reduced price
 The damage done the sheep industry by predatory animals in the western range states, and by dogs in the farm states, will be a very important sub juct of discussion at the conference. In some western states the number of predatory animals appears to be de creasings. but in others these pests are increasing in spite of growing set. dement's causing a loss of 10 per cent of the sheep and lambs in some sec tions. Dogs in farm states cause ir- regu ar losses among flocks of sheep, amounting in some cases to complete contamination. There is no doubt that
  states is the principal hindrance t0 the development of the sheep indus try in these regions, and a survey of this situation recently made by the de- partment Of agriculture indicates that if there were proper control of dogs, the sheep population of the farm states could be doubled without the disp acement of any other animals on the farms The effect of such an in- crease on the countrys meat supply would be pronounced as sheep in farm states are raised principally as meat producers.
 Various usrucies have been for some time engaged in propaganda work to effect an Improvement in wool handling and sAecp hushandry, and this conference is called by the secretary of agriculture to coordinate such efforts, and give an opportunity for the formulation of policies of na- tiona' scope, which will tend to place the sheep and wool industry in more stable basis,
 Much interest has already been manifested and a large attendance of representative wool growers, sheep breeders, manufacturers and others in terested il the sheep industry is eX pected
 The animal husbaudry division oi the Bureau of Animal Industry has made an educational collection of wools and WOO fabrics, which shows the advantages of proper preparation of wool for market, and market re- iquirements This collection will be on exhibition during the conference.