The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-01-13
Annual Meeting Of the Vermont Merino
Sheep Breedery Association.

ton was held In the court house, al
Wednesday. There was
large attendance and the court room
was crowded.
Among the prominent gentlemen
present from abroad were, j. Evarts
Smith, Ypsilanti, Michigan; A. X.
Warren, s. G. Nelson, Olivet, Michi,
gan: A. Leonard, Mount Leonard,
Missouri; d. A. McQuilty, Rocheport,
Missouri; w. 4. Kennedy, Somerset,
Michigan; II. w. Gentry, Sedalia,
Missouri; NJ. M. Kennedy, Liberty,
Michigan.
Of the state, nearly every noted
breeder of merino sheep was In atten-
dance.
The meeting was called to order at
half past eleven O'Clock In the fore
noon, by E. N. Bissell, of East Shore
b am, the president, who, in . brief
speech congratulated the assemblage
on the prosperity of the association, the
wider field 1t was occupying each
year, and the great influence it had up
on the improvement In the breed of
sheep. He then called for the secreta-
ry's report.
Mr.. Albert Chapman, of Middle
bury, the secretary, made his annual
report.
The most important portions Of the
address were:
"The year 1891 has been one of un.
precedented prosperity to the merino
sheep breeding interest. The demand
for pure bred registered merino sheep
has been greater and more widespread
than ever before, and the prices realiE-
ed for them much larger than for
many years. In comparing the prices
now obtained with those that were re.
ceived during war times. the great diff.
ference In the value of the gold dollar
now and then must be taken into the
reckoning. If we take at the highest
rate during the time of the war we
shall find the real price paid for me-
rino ram to have been SPAS. Some
sales lately made can nearly, or quite,
equal this sum. 1t is not on the very
boet and highest price class of the
sheep that the improvement in prices
10 the most widespread and beneficial
to the mass Of sheep breeders. The
demand for the surplus cheap rams for
Texas and Colorado has been such as
to take all that were In reasonably
good condition, at prices much higher
than during 1880 and preceding years
while the nearer western states have
wanted all the good sheep at good
prices, and as many of the best at very
large prices as our breeders would
spare, probably more than they should
have parted with at any price. This
increase of demand and enhancement
of prices commenced soon after the or
gsnization Of our association, and has
continued 40 the association has grown
! and enlarged its work. 1t undoubt.
edly has been the greatest and most po-
tent influence in bringing these sheep
into notice and inspiring confidence In
breeders outside Of Vermont, that the
purity of the blood of the merino sheep
recorded In the Vermont Register was
reliable. OF the sheep lately selected
by MIR. Markham for shipment to Aus.
tralia, over half were recorded In this
register; half were bred In Vermont.
There can be no doubt but the exhibit
ton of our woods at Sidney and Mel
bourne, with the circulation of mum.
her Of our first volumes In Australia,
New Zealand, and other countries, has
!, already had great influence in calling
the attention OF tho fock-masters In
those countries to the great improve.
nent the skill Of our breeders, under
the condition of our very favorable eli
mate and location, has effected In the
merino breed of sheep, and large and
increasing demand may be expected
; from breeders and hock-masters in
those countries, who will wish to avail
themselves of these improvements in
increasing the profits OF their own
flocks.
II the Vermont Merino Sheep Breed
ers' Association is sustained and Its
rood work carried on In thorough
and reliable manner, Vermont will
reap q great and important part Of the
advantages to be derived from this
demand. The growth of the associa-
ton during the year 1881 has been
much larger than In any year since It's
organization. In 1876, the first year OF
its organization, 1t had sixty-eight
members; at the end Of the second
wear It had received about ono hun
bred and ten new members; In the
third wear It received about fifty new
members; during the fourth year,
ing the fifth year, about one hundred
1881, two hundred and fifteen new
members have Joined the association
one member has been expelled, seven
have been suspended and tour or five
have sold out their hocks and with
drawn, leaving the present member
ship $50.
These members reside or have their
focks in eighteen states, as follows:
Maine 8; New Hampshire 4; Massachu-
sets 4; Connecticut Vermont 456 !;
New York %; Michigan Sc; Ohio 1872 I:
Pennsylvania 2; West Virginia 2; In.
diana /; Illinois s.; Missouri 8; Wis
consin Z; Kansas 4; Texas 2; Iowa 8;
Nebraska 1.
4 This large and increasing growth OF
the association has been entirely volun-
tary; there has been no official canvas
sing TO obtain new members, or to in
duce breeders to apply to have their
focas recorded. 1t Is confidence in
the stability, the thoroughness and
honesty of its work, and Its power and
ability to give their hocks, II worthy,
standing and publicity. In this last re-
spect every one must concede that Its
ability 10 bring any breeders flock be-
; fore the public and give 1t standing ex-
ceeds all other merino sheep registers
, combined, a. every member will have
copy of the register, and its member
ship undoubtedly exceeds the numbers
OF all others. An incident that occur
red ct the late tariff convention was q
marked tribute 10 Its standing and in
nuence. 1t had been decided that each