The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-16
VERMONT MERIN0 SHEEP-BREED.
ERS' ASSOCIATION.
PAPERS READ. DISCUSSIONS HAD AND
OFFICERS ELECTED.
FIRST Day.
FORENOON SESSION.

FORENOON SESSION.
The annual meeting of the Vermont
Merino Sheep-Breedels association open
ed at the town hall in Middebury on
Tuesday morning at II o'clock. Owing
to the bad roads, the attendance was
somewhat smaller than had been expect
ed, but was large.
President Samuel James of Weybridge
called the assemblage to order and an
nounced that the first paper on the pro-
gramme was to be by Hon. a. f. Perkins
of Pomfret, member of the State board
of agriculture. on The Encouraging
Prospect for Sheep-Breeders of Yer
mont"
Mr. Perkins. in opening, said that the
one thing necessary in any industry was
belief in its ultimate success. There was
no denying that the sheep business was
depressed. One cause was the low price
of wool; but when the increase in the
product per sheep is considered the pros
pect is not so very discOuraging after all.
But the depression will have one good
etlect-the wedding out of Door animals.
AS to the harm that will come to us from
competition with Western woOl-growers.
we are more scared than hurt. We get
our ideas of the Western sheep business
from the agents of railroads and Others
employed to make good stories. We hear
only of the successes. and nothing of the
failures. The speaker gave facts relative
to the cost of raising sheep in Texas.
Take flock of 2OOO breeding ewes, To
keep them year you must first buy 1000
acres of land, to provide summer and
winter grazing y fair price for land is
80 to - an acre. The cost of 2O0O
ewes we will call $4,000 and they will
average perhaps, to shear five pounds
each This is Il large average. Then
there are needed 60 rams at Sl5 Il head
and Il place fenced to keep them. Be
sides. there must be the outfit family eX-
penses and forage for the winter months
This latter is requisite to success, and so
is housing. Two herdsmen must be hired
AT an expense of $500. and foreman is
worth $500 year. In addition there is
the cost of shearing. dipping for the scab
etc. Altogether capital OF - 900 to
SlG.0O is required. The interest on this
should be included. The income from
these sheep is about five pounds of wool.
which sells at is cents pound. TIE
increase would amount to 400 lambs.
worth 81 Il head. These facts taken into
account. Vermont is seen not to be bad
State for wOOl-growing as compared with
the West. Another thing. The average
annual loss of sheep in Texas is % per
cent; in this State, per cent. As to the
apprehension felt from the change of pO-
litical parties. the speaker thought this
was greater than it should be. Two mil
lion of voters are engaged in Wool-grow-
ing; and no political party which does
not take into account their wishes can
long keep control of government. An
other encouraging feature OF the wool
business is the universal use of wool for
clothing; and it is fair to reason that
anything SO widely demanded will al
ways pay the cost of production. We
could live without other products of the
farm; but wooden clothing we must have.
OF late years line-wool sheep men have
been advised to get rid of their sheep and
buy those which will not come in com
petitisn with the far West. The speaker
thought this poor advice. If the West
eXcels in anything. it is in the production
of meat. In Vermont we have the best
sheep in the world, as is generally con-
ceGed. He hoped that the Improvement
of Merinos in this State in the future
would equal that of the past
Albert Chapman, secretary of the
Sheep-Breeders association, wished to
add a word on the political aspect of the
question. lie thought that during the
last campaign the cause of protection
gained ground very decidedly; and III re-
ply to Hon Henry Lane of Cornwall in
stanced the case of Congressman Hurd
of Ohio, who failed of Il reelection last
fall because he was so strong free
trader.
en- Wlnslow of Brandon. secretary of
the American Ayrshire Breeders asso-
citation, made an address on the subject,
The Art of Breeding The success
of the breeder depends upon his having
an ideal and selecting animals adapted
TO produce the end sought. The best
animal is the one which brings to its
owner the most money for the least out
lay. Perfection of type comes from the
breeding of animals possessing this
quality. This could not easily be done
before the establishment of herd-books
to insure purity of blood. The aim OF
the breeder Is to produce not only AT
animal of value. but also one that will
reproduce its valuable qualities. This
prepotency depends altogether on the
length of the time these qualities have
been possessed by the animals auces
tors. Good constitution is at the foun
datiOn of success. ln-and-in breeding
was discussed and approved of. Mark,
occaSiOned by accident may be repro
duced. Disappointment may arise GU
of the offspring of ewes that have beer
bred to inferior animals. Improper feed
and care may also hinder improvement
Therefore. he who would change his stocl
for the better must give them gooC
care and kind treatment. Mr.. Winslow
address was received with applause.
A. j. Stow Of Weybridge said he haC
heard it stated that the breeding o
ewes to inferior animals contaminated
the blood of the ewes. lie did not be
lieye this and quoted noted Frencl
Psychologist in support of his view.
Mr.. WinslOw, in reply to questions an,
objections. maintained that accidental in
iuries were perpetuated.
Mr.. Stowe thought that if this was 81
Merinos ought by this time TO be borl
without tails.
VIM. Il. Sanford of Cornwall said tn
committees on pedigree of this associa
ton had received SO conclusive evidenc
on the point raised by Mr.. Stowe tina
they would not receive into the registe