Annual Meeting Of The Michigan State Merino Sheep Breeders

The annual meeting of the Michigan state merino sheep broeders, and shearing 'estival, was held on the fair grouuds Friday. The main hall was uied for the exhibit and shearing, and was filled with rnprovised pine tables for the shearers and sheep pens. The object of the sociey is to raise the grade of merino sheep jy a public competition, held annuallr, of the different broeders in the State. The shearing process is done in public, ;he fleeces being baled and weighed by ihe Secretary of the society, Mr. W. J. G. Dean, of Hanover. The sheep are sheared y those who own tliem . A record is made of the weight of the shesp before ind after ehearing, and the wool, after jeing thoroughly scoured at a woolen actory agreed upon, is put on record as to its relativo weight and quality and certifiaates issued to the exhibitors accordingly. Between 100 and 150 sheep ïave been entered at this meeting from .he southern aection of Michigan. No jraded sheep are aliowed to be entered, ,he entries being aliowed to only regiaered and thoroughbred marino animáis. The heaviest Hsece takeu froin any ram iiki íiín tlii uicotiuK -woighod thirty and one-half pounds from a flookownedby C. Al. ThorntOD, of Norvell. An ewe owned by A. A. Vv'ood, of Saline, sheared wenty-two and one-half pounds, being he heaviest ewe fieece of the maeting. The sheep exhibited here are estimated o bo worth $lU,000. An ( )hio speculator s present negotiating for a heavy purchasíi of sheep to be sent to South America, Among the most prominent breederu )reseut was Wilham Ball, of Hamburg, yho had the tinest exhibit of the meeting. Iim üock exiiibited consisted of seven rauiB and twelve ewes, 1 aud 2 years old. At his farm lie has a tlock of JOU thorough jred merino sheep, all registered. J. Everett Smith, of Ypsilanti, and A. A. Wootl, of Saline, were also présent with ine exhibite of sheep. Other prominent areeders present were A. T.jShort, Coldwater; T. G. Wood, Norman Wood and Lra Wood, of Saline; T. V. Quackenbush, Plymouth; O. M. Thornton, Northvilla; Wilham Óage, South Lyons; George fioyt, Saline; H. Doane, South Lyous; W . E. Boyden, Delhi ; Charles Parsons, Saline; S. K Crittenden, Fittafleld; Marii Attmnii, llii.lo-.ti i The officers of this assoaiation are as follows: John T. Rich, Elba, Prasident; H. H. Hinds, Stanton, VicePresident; W. J. G. Dean, Hanover, Secretary; J. Everett Smith, Ypsilanti, Treaauiar; A. A. Wood, local committee on cleansmg the wool.