Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-16
Meeting OF the Vermont Sheep Breeders,
Association and state Board Of
Agriculture,

meeting mt the court room in Middlehurv,
on Wednesday morning. the OH INST. with
IN excellent attendance, more than sixty
members being present, which for a meet
ing to hear reports. was good Mr.. Chap.
man, the Secretary, reported one hundred
and seventy two tlorks as examined and
accepted. while about twelve or fifteen
ilocks were rejected. Mr. Chapman said
that in his researches in Obtaining The
pedigrers of llOcks 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,
$500 ms against $50 IS on January LIST.
1877. Due from members in unpaid fees
S477 80, giving the society funds now
amounting to Sl26l,49.
The reports of the Secre tary 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 Il 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 ofllc ~.
for 1878, were elected:
Transformation. N. T. Sprague, Bran
don.
VIcE-PREsIDENTs-S. G. Holyoke, st.
Adams, Z. N. Bissell f. Shoreham.
Observation-Disclosures d. Lane. Mddlc-
bury.
SEcRErARY-Albert Chapman, Middle
bury.
DIREoTORs-E. Stowel, Cornwall, V.
Rich, Rchvile, Henry Thorp, Charlotte,
II. Merle Bottum SALISBURY,
Con-. ON PEDIGREEs-W. X. Remeln
Middlebury, j. Il. Slickney, Shoreham, j.
j. Cram. Bridport
Con-. ON CoRREsPoNDENCE-A. Chap.
man, Middebury, F. Moore, Shoreham, 4.
+. Fuller, Pomfret, c. p. Cram, Bridport,
Geo. Campbell, Westminster West. f. n.
Bissell, E. Shoreham, T. Townsend, n.
Y, b. w. Cope, Ohio, VIM. Ball, Michi-
gan, G. M. Clark, Wisconsin, f. Peck,
Illinois,
The Secretary was appointed delegate to
the National Wool Growers Association
and it was voted that the expense incur
In to in, IL,
lngs be betrayed by the Association. At
Ter the business matters were disposed of
very interesting discussion was had on
the construction of barns, and the impor-
tance of ventilation and exercise for sheen
and cattle; the conclusion apparently ar
rived ut beng that sheep especially, should
have plenty OF air and exercise to insure
good health and good strong lambs.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The exercises began with music from
the Good Templars' choir. " The Vermont
Farmers Song" Prof w. II. Brewer, Of
New Haven, read Il very interesting paper
on breeding. Breeding has in past years
been carried on chiefly from tradition and
experience; now, it had reached II point
where ii can nearly be considered Il science.
when it was carried on in c.or lance WITH
physiological laws. Robert Blackwell was
the first breeder who attained very re.
markable results by improved methods,
and such was his success, that he received
In single season over $1,000 for the use
OF hi, animals
OF his details we know very little. cxcop.
that he bred in-and-n.
In 1858 the Darwjnian hypothesis was
promulgated, since when great changes
IN me opinions of scientific men had taken
place.
twenty years ago nearly all naturaljsls
believed in fixed species, which was now
well nigh given up. Most of wild animal, |
can be famed, but cannot be domesticatcd.
and domestic animals are born tame Now
the margin between an animal which only |
pays the cost of keeping and one which |
pays protlt Is very narrow one, and the
man who expects to breed horse for gen
eral use, fast horse, good draft horse,
good roadster and farm horse, OF IA dog
which should be good sheep dog, and
hunter, and watch dog, would find himself |
disappointed. 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
perfectlons as well as cxcelences are in
creased in reproduction, and keep on in
creaslng TILL the line is extinct, and seems
to be provision of nature to prevent the
perPetuatlon of imperfect or diseased an
lmas'
Iurlly OF blood is of greater importance
e.
than fancy points. There is now ten
denlccy to give too much prominence to
pedigree Pedigree is of value as evil
oence OF blood, and blood is only good
where 1t Is gooh blood. Pedigree to be
especially good must be studded all along
It's line with especially good animals.
Cross breeds sometimes have excellen-
ces not to be found in either parent.
ln'and-in breeding has b. en- practiced in
many cases with marked excelencees re-
sulllng' but it must be used with great care
dence seems 70 he that if dova5a,', y, ~ wv
de,ncy toward weakness. Barrenness often
loliows in-brcedlng, especially where it is
USED 10 induce iattening qualities, us tax
ing on tat dlmlnishes fertility but there is
no uouot OF tendency toward in-breeding,