The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-01-20
Agricultural Department.
CONDUCTED ny ALBERT CHAPMAN
Report of the Executive Board OF the
Vermont Nlcrino Sheep breeders AS
cnrin.ton

Vermont nirrino Sheen Breeders AS
socin.,o,
The Executive Board OF the Vt. NJ. ,.
Il. Association have to report the Asso-
citation organized on the ia OF March
last, with mary doubts, under many
discouiaglng circumstances, ana anld
many prophecies OF failure. has made
more progress than lis most s.angulne
friends dared hope, until now 1t stands
no longer doubtful experiment but a
well assured success. The breeders OF
the state have rallied to lts support, ana
MS the! nave investigated us claims ana
importance, have taken hold OF the work
with such earnestness as to dispcl all
fears OF It's failure, and give promise Of
its issuing the first volume Of its record
cd pedigrecs OF locks at an early day.
and That ii Will only be hindcrcd by the
numbers who arc now striving to get
ihcir Hooks entered in the records of an
institution that already is looked TO as
the standard authority on the pediercc-
of Vermont mcrinOs. not only by mosi
of the flock owners of our state, but by
those who arc looking To- her llocSa for
pure blood 10 improve their own, rs
well As by those who arc about to cslab-
fish new Hooks.
The great success Of our undertaking
j., in good part. perhdp. due 10 iho
new life aud interest excited in DE
sheep breeding interest by the qrcai
triumph OF Vermont mcrinos at the
Centennial Exhibition al Philadelphia.
where those from other states had hoped
10 secure the honor Of showing the best
sheep. and thus prove TO the world That,
with many of our best sheep. they had
also succeeded IN trmsplaniing the pres
iigc of thc fame of our best nocks 10
their own states and that with The
decline OF few OF our noted llock- we
had no other Of like excellence to w
ply their placc-. so that now those who
would get the best must look elsewhere
tilall III Vermont for them. 10 make
their success more complete, thcy had
hoped by local register, under q ia-
ilonal name, managed by Il local CONF
mltice, to make II appear that their own
sheep were much higher in the scale OF
excellent points than any in Vermont.
Those gentlemen who thought the time
had arrived For them to claim the super
louty oil their sheep over those of Ncr-
mont, have learned that tie mantlcs Of
her former breeders have fallen upon
He shoulders Of younger students of
theirs, who are able. not only 90 keep
the excellence OF her ilOcks up To- thc
old-time standard, but TO advance 10
sun higher grades OF improvement. and
that to beat the best sheep Of Vermont
in 1876. the possession OF something
better than those she sold in 1866 is
necessary. Another lesson il would be
well for them TO learn. q, well as for
Vermont breeders to appreciate. is, that
with all the advantages Of more liberal.
bouutcous keep. and The shorter W intcrs
of mildcr climate. il j. easier to III
crease the bulk of carcass Than 10 main
tain the wool-bcaring power of the ami
NAL and if they would keep their flock
up to the highest capabilities for wool
bearing. they must resort 10 thc flocks
of Vermont to improve their own, or
even to keep them from dctcrioiaiing.
and that this infusion OF our best blood
must be Of frequent occurrence. With
all the study, intelligence and enter
prise of Vermont breeders. second 10
none elsewhere, their grcaicsi advantage
is the natural one Of the air and climate
OF their state, which 80 materially sec
onds their efforts TO increase the wool
bearing power Of their ilock- of fine
wooded sheep.
For the great success Of or sheep at
the Centennial, we are under great OBJ
legations TO the Vermont Wool Grow
crs' Association for furnishing the funds
to deflay the expenses Of the show of
Vermont sheep: to the Hon. :. G.. Hol-
yoke of St. Adams, who 50 ably and
faithfully acted in the capacity of super
intendcnt of their exhibition: to Other
gentlemen who cO-operatcd with and
assisted him in carrying ont his well
formed and wise plans: and last, but
far from least, to those flock masters in
Vermont who were able and willing TO
send sheep that were pronounced the
best at the show, and received the high
est awards wherever there was direct
competition, and took every special
premium offered.
But to return to the more legitimate
subject OF this report. The Executive
Board would say that Notwithstanding
the discouagcmenls Of an almost I'M
procodcntcd depression in the wool
market, the past season, and thc consc-
quent depression In the sheep trade, the
breeders of Vermont have given the
matter OF our sheep register serious at
tcntion and substantial support, and il
is hoped that the publication OF thc first
volume of lis register will moi be very
long delayed.
by the report Of the treasurer il will
be seen that the finances of the Associa-
ton are in healthy condition and its
funds ample to carry on lis work, with
such further rcalizaliOns of it, assets as
are confidently expected by The EXecu-
tive Board. If IS thought that. although
we were refused the aid institutions of
IKE character In other brauchcs OF farm
ing in Vermont have received and mc
receiving from the state, orr own re-
sources from memberships, registration
fees. and sales Of volumes OF the regis
ter when published, will not only pre-
Guide all probability Of need for an
assessment upon the members of the