Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-02-13
Sheep Jnterest.
THE SHROPSHIRE CLAIMS
ANSWERED,

port of the proceedings of the American
Shropshire Registry association, notice
the following:
1--WE boast of more recorded sheep,
more active members, and more assets
than all the present sheep organizations
of the United States, Canada and Eng
land combined"
Were those making this boast sure they
knew all the facts in the case when they
made it? Were they sure they were justi-
fled in Boosting that their mutual
admiration society had more sheep
registered, more active members, and
more assets, than all the other sheep
organizations in the countries named.
The United States is quite country, and
when you come to add all Canada and
England, there is quite a territory to
know all about what is going on in so
much of the wide, wide world. | had
thought good many times that the
breeders of Shropshire sheep were very
active, and perchance, somewhat given
to Boosting of the great superiority of
their sheep over all others, for all pur-
poses; but, if their sheep do not back
them up better than the facts do the
boast in question, there may be reason to
discount large per cent from these
claims for superiority. | do not pretend
to know all about all the sheep organi-
cations in the countries named, but | do
know just enough about few to make
me almost certain that the wild boast in
question is very far from having a good
foundation, and for the purpose of bring
ing out the facts from other sheep organi-
cations, / will furnish few items in re-
gard to the Vermont Merino Sheep
Breeders association, and hope other
organizations will also furnish such
statistics that we may see what grounds
there are for such boast. The Shrop-
shire association have, they boast, $4,000
sheep recorded, and nearly 600 members !;
if so, they have registered an average of
about $500 sheep per year since their or
=
Breeders association, since their orgaDi-
cation in March, 1876, haye recorded an
average of over 10000 sheep per year, or
over 100000. In consequence of so many
other sheep registry associations for re-
cording MerinO sheep, starting since this
was organized, our membership now is
materially reduced, but we still have
oyer 600 on our books. Our present as
sets are not equal to compare with the
boast of the Shropshire association, as
they are a little less than $1,000; but,
since our organization, we have never
lacked funds to carry on the legitimate
work of the association, and we have dur
ing that time RENTED some $1,000 or
$4,000 to members by not collecting the
annual dues, because we did not need the
funds. In addition to this we have given
each member with flock recorded a copy
of each of the three volumes of our Reg
lister when published, and paid the post
age on all those sent out of our country.
But do not say all of this in the line of
Boosting, but to show that the Shropshire
association will have to discount consid-
cradle from their boast, that they have
more members and more sheep registered
Ethan all other sheep organizations in
the United States, Canada and England
combined"
Aside from ALT his Boosting is there not
room enough for the different breeds of
sheep in the countries named? Is there
not reason to doubt the capacity of the
Shropshire sheep to produce all the diff
ferent kinds of wool needed to manufac-
ture all the different kinds of wooden
fabrics needed and used by our 81, 900, 200
of people? Is it absolutely certain that
the 45, OOO,0 900 sheep in the United States
had best all be Shropshires?
There are breeders still, and they num-
Der several times 600, that believe in
Merino sheep, and there is to-day reac-
ton in public sentiment toward their
view of the case; that good, strong, rug
ged Merino sheep, of good size, produc-
ing good carcass of mutton, and shear.
ing fifteen to twenty per cent of wool to
weight of carcass, As the wisest breeders
of Merino sheep are producing to-day
are more profitable for many breeder.
and in many sections of our land than
those that produce only about four pei
cent of wool, even with mutton carcas.
that is superior
! do not think there is need Of any OF
us publishing any great boasts about oul
sheep or our organizations. The WORLD
is wide enough for us all. Such AS lik,
Shropshires, and take great interest il
them, will undoubtedly succeed best Will
that breed; but others that believe in
and like Merinos best, will succeed bes
with them. The greatest drawback
upon the reputation is, there are too care
less breeders and too poor caretakers t,
have any breed in their hands profitabl,
success. ALBERT CHAPMAN.
MIDDLEBURY, Vt.
A plarOVman SauS NIohnSon's Ano