Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-06-04

ter, to consider the same and report thereon.
The introduction of Merino sheep may be
dated from this time, and so important 1t
seemed that Mt the next meeting of the trus.
tees after Col. Humphreys letter was received
the question was raised whether Col. Ilumph-
reys should not receive the gold medal Tor his
services and at the following meeting 1t was
awarded to him, not to exceed fifty dollars in
value.
The inscription on the medal was as
follows
Presented by the Massachusetts Society tor
Promoting Agriculture, TO the Hon. David
Humphreys, Esq, late minister to the court
of Madrid as a testimony of respect Tor MS
England one hundred of the Merino breed of
sheep from Spain, to improve the breed OF
that useful animal in his own country, 1902
a few years later, Col. Humphreys
wrote a letter to the same society, assur-
ing the members that his expectations
had been realized in the success attending
the introduction of these sheep into this
country and that they not only retained
all their good qualities, but had really
improved. He then wrote:
The attempt to propagate the pure Merinos
in this country has been attended win com.
pletc success. The extent of the experiment
nsures the duration OF the unadulterated
breed. Instead OF degenerating in the guam,
tity or quality of their ticeces, the identical
y
on an average, half pound more or WOOL
apiece than they did at the first shcaring after
their arrival. It is the opinion of all the far
mers in Connecticut, who have been acqualnt-
ed with the original flock and its descendants
both of the pure and mingled blood, that they
are harder, better adapted to our climate,
and more easily nourished, both in summer
and winter, than the common breed OF Amerl,
can sheep. Finally, it may truly be asserted
that they preserve the entire character, shape,
features, and qualities of the best Merinos in
spain.
In this same letter, Col. Humphreys
notices the success that has attended the
efforts to cross these sheep with the
American sheep, and also the success
that had been attained in manufacturing
the Merino wool into cloth. He says:
\ difficulty was experienced at first in
carding the wool by the common cardlng
machines. This has been overcome. Some
farmers, who early introduced mixture OF
this blood into their hocks have made, in
domestic manufacture, for sale, i've or SIN
pieces of cloth from this wool during the
present year. | have several hundred yards
fabricated entirely by machinery, from pure
Merno t1ceces. several thousands made by
the same process, from the common sheep :
wool of the country, have already been sent
to market samples of both kinds, with the
prices, are enclosed. How long period must
pass before the prejudice against the fabrics
of our country can be eXtinguished is not for
me to decide. ltany suitable means for their
extinction could be devised and adopted, per
rendered to the real prosperity and indepen-
dence of the United states.
Had Col. Humphreys lived until this
year of grace. he would have been panied
to see. in the tariff bill Ddst reported by
the majority of the committee of ways
and means. evidence that the period of
eighty years had not been long enough
to remove all the prejudice against the
fabrics and industries of the United
States. 4 bill that would more complete
" surrender 1.-The real prosperity and in
dependence of the United States" could
probably have been devised. but it would
have required the full talent and forces
of the Golden Club to have concocted
it. Like Col. Humphreys. | believe. if
some suitable means for the extinction
of the prejudice against our own fabrics
and industries. that seems to prevade the
minds of the majority of the present com
mittee of ways and means. could be de-
viSed and adopted. ian essential service
would be thereby rendered to the real
prosperity and independence" of oul
country.
If constituents of the several members
referred to were to realize their needs anC
best welfare. they would devise anC
adopt the same remedies as were devised
u! 'iic " oi' ~ ~,
.n ;''l,,'+, ;'i,' liz ,,,t,., ~ 10 In.
'nv mus, w., VI LIZ sa.,,inn
ni-,I,, ,,.;,I'i,, tbo Tnruds af tr~th =
sn,. ~. " tI,n r,b"io rona nf nartison mol
;t;a;o ,,,s', ora ,ot of haIf os nncb nonsa
i' '' a." ", l,U. V, ,i s tha rona ~
IT nniuo stoo U"' ,,.hnsn rar,. ovistenne rho,
,,,o, Ia 1t Pc f,',.t,;or thn ;tornSt
"o"in "i', ~ ~ -, ,,, of Nv, in6,,s
~ pa, th "i 'a o,ntrt' Tbo whale rac,
- .I,, W. t',i ,,,.a,. ,o, far,oJ -, urI,I
,,,rti - .,oir ,.',i,tr,. Cni Uu,,h
pcnC'i, W. v,,Uti 20 Mar;no shoo,, amd ;
~! m1 tt". 90 e'f' hnnbt ,rbathor tbdSo VIII,
q . ,'i ah,'' t,o io,, ,,lono ne nm,
".a ,'U oi;t;nS ~ rho hiohor lavaI If states
,i,nmsI';,i l'nov, ~. r,'Ich ohont noIitir.
il",i9P' nN Nv, ',of,'i a,,i,,,.IS td uboS,
oSGto,s ~ tho e,,C uo mormntmni monaco
Tho road ANY of tho EnrnoI viii nardo,
tie 'v .h"t - t r thnmnht n,iaht leen
~" di ,u. i From, rho su6iact Of minor
ta - nf Worinn sbnon. hnt = mora com
, ,'ie,oi' ~ df tba snhiont vii
Pho,,. j. = etuhhorn faot Which th
Th'N II - 4" 0'o'''iii A"N, 'i'N,' 20