Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-22
Sheep Jnterest.
THE IDEAL SPANISH MERINO.

AGRICULTURAL MEETING HERE LAST
WEEK.
Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen
The theme which the president of the
Vermont Merino Sheep-Breeders' associ-
alton has given me upon which to write
a few lines is full of interest and import
ance to all wool growers, especially so at
the present time. He has brought it be-
fore this meeting as subject for discus
sion, that we may compare notes and see
how we stand individually and as an
association.
The president has assigned to me the
duty of throwing the apples of discord
among you, well knowing that my usual
laundering would stir up strife among
you, hoping that we may be benefited by
the discussion which may follow.
Should confine myself strictly to the
subject, all might be said in very few
words.
TO go into the history of the develop
ment of the ideal Spanish Merino sheep
from the first importations to the present
Let me digress for moment and touch
upon that which always concerns us-the
Undertaking. from the ideal sheep.
Since a measure of Republican leaven
has been thrown into the Senate amend
ment to the tariff bill, now before Con-
gress, fermentation has commenced and
unless the "lump' be "laid upon the
shelf in the too cold House of the 50th
Congress, we may, in due time, expect a
taste of the loaf which many of our pat
riotic representatives are doing their ut
most to prepare for us. Should the pres
ent Congress fail to perform its duty Gas
we see t) in this respect, we entertain a
much greater assurance that the 5lst will,
so that without an excessive stretch of
Imagination we can see the clouds, which
have so long and sullenly hung over the
wool and sheep-growing industry, begin
to rise, and now and then a pencil of light
darts through the gloom, and again we
have hope that our cherished occupation
will soon reasonably compensate us for
our invested capital, skill and labor.
Although it may seem to be anticipat-
ing somewhat, yet we cannot help feel
ing that we may soon be called upon for
sheep to be sent to the far South and
West and perhaps to foreign countries.
If so, are we prepared for the emergency
Have the members of the Vermont Meri-
no Sheep Breeders association the class
of sheep that the market requires?
In reply to the first query | shall not
attempt to speak for the association: l
speak only for myself. | say with much
earnestness that | am ready for the
emergency. l will be ready tomorrow
at sunrise to exchange sheep for green
backs-the larger the denomination the
better shall be suited. will give every
one fair play if | am not overcrowded.
l will give my address to the most anx-
ious after this meeting shall have ad-
journed. In answering the second ques-
ton do not do so with nearly as much
confidence. To me it has a more serious
aspect.
1t has been the the constant aim OF the
Vermont Merino sheep-breeders for the
past fifty years to produce the perfect
Vermont Merino sheep. Their views
have been through all these years nearly
identical, as to what should constitute
an ideal Merino sheep. By untiring dill
gence and most iudicious breeding they
have overcome many obstacles and pro-
duced a class of sheep wholly unlike the
original focks, without sacrificing purity
of blood. By what physical laws these
results have been attained l can not now
explain, but surely the transformation
has been wonderful as well as satisfac
tory. 1t has been the intention of breed
ers to develop class of sheep perfect, a!
nearly as possible, in shape and covering
and at the same time hardy enough to en-
! dure the severe extremes of a Vernon
climate. In shape, their ideal must have
a broad, short head, nose wide, whit,
and silky. thick neck, the top starting
even with the point of the shoulders
with heavy folds beneath, chest brOat
and deep, back wide and straight through
its entire length, ribs round, legs rathe
short with large bone and good muscula
development. This framework SHOULD
be covered with pelt large enough 70
two or three such sheep still belongin,
TO one, folded and pleated about the nee
and shoulders, less along the sides, tel
minating posterori with wrinkles a.
libitum, at least sufficient to give beaut
to the form. A sheep of that characte
will naturally have good constitution
without which sheep is Of all thing
most miserable.
As to the covering of the sheep Their
is more or less difference of opinion, an
that consists chiefly in the fineness of tn
fibre of the wool, some advocating
strong fleece as most desirable, Will
Others take the opposite view; but tn
vnncf nnn1 hraaJaro oIo,t tbo c.,Ilo