The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-06

breeding works out such grand results,
as some claim in the breeding of cat lG
and horses, why will it not carry with
our sheep? My theory is this We
require more of American Merinos
than of any other animal known to
man. He must possess all the points
of form of the typical short horus and
carry fleece of from twenty-five to
forty pounds, yielding an amount of
secured wool sufficient TO make cloth
to clothe a full grown man, All OF
which take the vital frees to its ut
most capacity. And any influence
which weakens the constitutional vigor
or powers of assimilation will under.
mine the structure. The effect might
manifest itself in a let down of fleece
qualities, and be less marked in the
carcass, but more likely to manifest it.
self in an opposite direction, either OF
which might disquality ram as a
breeder. TO my mind it is pitiable
sight to see man rowing against the
wind and tide of close consanguinity
and impaired vitality to preserve some
strain of blood that may have been pop
ular in the long ago. Their Judgment,
warped by prejudice or bigotry, forget.
ting that standards change with fash
ion, that the title of king or queen
without crown or dominion, is but an
empty name that the remnants of aris-
tocracy are often the very dudes of so.
ciety. In these times when it requires
good carcass covered with good
fleece of wool to bring from $40 to $50,
q pedigree alone is poor commodity
to market. AS pedigree without the
animal is of no value, so the animal
untried without the pedigree is worth
scarcely more, as he would be esteem
ed chance shot that would not be du-
plicated In conclusion let me say,
breed for a purpose, picture in your
own mind your ideal sheep and march
steadily with that object in view. II
you think as | do that our thorough.
bred flocks should be esteemed as stud
flocks and bred with special reference
to furnishing the material to improve
and revolutionize the ol-growing
hocks of the world, and that the type
of sheep best calculated for that pur.
pose is a broad, compactly built one oil
great weight of carcass, carrying q
dense heavy oiled fleece of wool of me
dunn length of staple, yet very uniform
in every part as to length and density
of high quality for clothing WOOL free
from care and covering the sheep as
nearly as possible at all points except.
ing the front face, and in addition to al
this carrying as many folds as it is pos
sible to secure with the other points
mentioned, then aim to breed such
sheep and defend them upon the ground
that very large per cent. of the great
rams of history have been of this char
acter, aud that many of the others OF
less individuality were of their get land
that not a single Merino sheep can be
found that has won high record fol
secured wool but that ram of thi:
type was close up if not holding the
first place of honor in the pedigree. II
your ideal sheep is of a palmer mould
and you fancy longer staple and silk
= Ter fleece, then travel another route, but
hold yourself in readiness to be beaten
in the show ring, at the shearing bench
and in the securing vat. Take no mans
advice unless in harmony with YOU
ripest judgement. Never sell what YOU
need in your own flock. Never be car
ried away with this boom or that, I'M
less based upon solid and enduring
merit. Stamp your flock with your
own individuality as a breeder. BreeC
the Stowell fleece or Bismarck yolk
Breed to no mans ram unless his in
dividuality bears witness that his
breeder is inspired with aims and pur
poses in common with yourself, and sc
construct both walls of your arch tina
when the keystone is in place you have
a foundation upon which you can builc
enduring greatness.