Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-16
Meeting OF the Vermont Sheep Breeders,
Association and State Board Of
Agriculture.

Meeting Of the Vermont Sheep Breeders
Association and State Board Of
Agriculture.
This association met for their annua
meeting at the court room in Middlebury
on Wednesday morning, the 9th inst. will
an excellent attendance, more than sixl,
members being present, which for meet
ing to hear reports, was good. Mr. Chap
man, the Secretary, reported one hundred
and seventy-two focks as examined an(
accepted, while about twelve or fiftcel
focks were rejected. Mr.. Chapman saiC
that in his researches in obtaining III,
pedigrees of flocks presented for registry
he had found much information concern
ing the importations and breeding Of
tlocks, which was quite valuable and
would be Incorporated into the next re.
port.
The Treasurer reported funds on hand,
S7S3.99 as against $50 49 on january LIST,
1917. Due from members in unpaid fees,
Slit so, giving the society funds now
amounting to $l261.49.
The reports of the Secretary and Treas
urer were adopted.
The Secretary said the contract for pub.
fishing the register had already been made
at such rates as would leave balance in
the treasury after all expenses had been
met.
1t was voted, in view of the prosperous
condition of the society to abate the yearly
tax of two dollars per member for the cur
rent year.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was more fully attended
than the morning and the following oflic rs
for 1873, were elected:
Transformation. N. t Spmguo, Bran
don.
VIcE-PREsIDENTs-S. G. HoIyoke. St.
Adams, E. N. Bissell, L. Shoreham
TREAsURER-Chares d. LINE, Middle
bury.
SEcRETARY-Albert Chapman, Middle
bury,
DREcToRs E. Stowell, Cornwall V.
Rich, Richville, Henry Thorp, Charlotte,
ii. Merle Bottum, SALISBURY.
Com. ON PEDlGREEs w. R. Rcmelc,
Middlebury, j, I, Stickney, Shoreham. J,
j. Cram. Brdport.
Con- ON CORRESPONDENCE Chap
man, Middlebury, +. Moore, Shorehau, a.
II, Fuller, Pomfret, q p Cram, BrijlorI.
Geo. Campbell, Yves minister West + N
BlsseII, +. Shorehnm, + townsend n
Y. Is w. Cope, Ohio, VIM. Ball. Michi.
gan, G. NJ Clark, Wisconsin, Z. Peck
Illinois,
Inc Secretary was appointed delegate to
the National Wool Growers As,orapion.
ana it was voted tn 1t the eyv.u.r in,.ur
red Ivy lie delegate in Attending the meet
ings be betrayed by the Association AZ
ter the business matters were disposed of
Il very interesting discussion was hld ON
the construction of burns, and the mpor.
lance of ventilation and exprri.n c,r .E',".,
and cattle; the conclusion apparentlv ur-
rived ut being that sheep especially. sGouldI
have plenty Of air and exercise 10 insurr
good health and good strong lambs
w,,,,,s
i'' 'NlN"'
The exercises began with music from
the Good Templars' choir, THE Vermont
Farmers Song" Prof w. IL. Brewer of
New Haven. read very INTERESTING u,prr
on breeding. Breeding has in past years
been carried on chiefly from tradition and
experience; now, it had reached u point
where 1t can nearly be considered Il science.
and the best results would be reached
when it was carried on in accordance WIZ
physiological laws. Robert Blackwell was
the first breeder who attained very rn-
markable results by improved methods
and such was his success, that he received
IN single season over $4,000 for the use
OF his animals
Of his details we know very little cxcon
that he bred in-and-in.
In 1858 the Darwinian hvnothosis. ,,.,,,
promulgated, since when great chan %es
in the opinions Of scientific men had taken
place.
Twenty years ago nearly all naturalisls
believed in fixed species, which was now
well nigh given up Most of wild animals
can be tanned, but cannot be domesticated
and domestic animals are born tame. Now
tue margin between an animal which only
pays the cost of keeping and one which
pays profit is q very narrow one. and fine
man who expects to breed Il horse for oen-
eral use, fast horse. u good draft horse
a good roadster and farm horse. or a doc
which should be good sheep dor, and
hunter, and watch dog would find Himself
General use should mean
local adaptation to special uses and prof.
liable raising,
Generally speaking it may be said that
ike produces like, and we are not likely
TO oVerrate heredity. But hereditary i'm.
pertections as well as cxcellenccs are in.
creased in reproduction, and keen nm in.
creasing till the line is extinct. and seems
to be provision of nature to prevent thn
perpetuation of imperfect Or diseased an.
lmals'
Purity of blood is of greater inheritance
than fancy points. There i, now n fen.
dency to give too much prominence to
pedigree. Pedigree is of value as cvi.
dence of blood, and blood is only gool
where it is good blood. PedigreG to he
good must be studded all ,lonu
its line with especially good animals.
Cross breeds sometimes have exrellon.
ces not to be found in either parent.
ln-and-in breeding has b en- practiced in
many cases with marked excelIencees re.
5ultlng. but it must be used with great care
and discrimination, and the weight of evi.
dence seems to be that it devclops a fen.
'thNJ lOWAlh WtuhItsS I1IIelnnSS ntlpn .