Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-12-19
JUDGING MERINOS AND THEIR
CARE AT AGRICULTURAL
FAIRS.

FAIRS.
The following letter from ]. C. S.
Hamilton of Bridport is in reply to the
communication of E. N. Bissell printed
in this paper of recent date:
Middlebury Register:
1t is with regret, that feel obliged
to answer Mr.. Bissell, as he is an old
breeder and exhibitor and should know
what he is talking about, but we are all
liable to mistakes, and never too old to
learn.
In regard to what he says about the
judges is very good, but do not think
it is best to criticize them too much as
they surely have hard time of it, and
more particularly when an exhibitor
places his sheep in the wrong class.
Most fairs, and l think they should
all, now place the Merinos in three
classes, A, B and C or Delans, and
each class distinct from the other, that
is sheep entered and showed in the A
class are not eligible in the B. And
the B type are not eligible in the C
class.
This year was the first time that we
had all those classes at our State Fair,
and l was very glad to see it. In the
lambs exhibit it takes four for a pen,
(get of one sire). Mr. Bissell had four
lambs in his exhibit at the Vermont
State fair this year that he entered and
showed in the A class. When it come
to the B class he also entered and
showed, but when it come to the pen of
four lambs that he had showed in the A
class, the judges attention was called
to it and they were dropped out very
quick. But it seems that he was not
quite satisfied, for when it come to the
& class, he entered and showed there,
and as there was no legal protest made,
and as the judge probably thought that
some of his BIS was better than some
of the Delains that he competed against,
he got some.prizes.
Mr.. Bissell had no Delains in his
exhibit, and doubt if he has any in his
flock, for don't believe he is breeding
that type. l was not an exhibitor in
that class, but Mr.. Lovett of Ohio and
Mr.. Hilton of Maine were and will agree
to my statement
Mr.. Bissell says that he knows of one
exhibitor who begins fitting his sheep
several months before the fair season
opens; they are oiled and singed and
blanketed at all times, except when
they are being judged. They must have
the best alfalfa hay, roots or cabbages,
and blankets hung up in front of them,
if in an open pen.
Mr.. Bissell calls no names but | will
plead guilty to the charge of feeding,
and will say that as long as keep sheep
unless ! can find something better,
shall continue to feed that way.
think that Il progressive breeders will
say that it is better to feed that kind
of fodder than it is to stuff with all the
grain that they will eat. And II e
blankets up in front of them, that he
seems to think is such crime, | con-
slider good idea as there is nothing to
keep out the cold north rain from com
ing in on them in open pens. | will say
that in regard to blankets | never keep
them on my sheep, only when | am TAX
ing them to and from the fairs. | live
eight miles from railroad and think it
helps to keep off the dust and protect
their fleece.
| well remember three years ago at
the State fair, helped Mr.. Bissell to
put blankets on his sheep, and as the
blankets were very poor, he made the
remark that he would have to get some
new ones, and still he says that he has
only used blankets one year.
He also says that sheep handled in
that way would make poor sheep for
the foreign markets. Now, have
sent good many sheep in the last few
years to South America. | put my
sheep on the boat at the port of New
York and trust to the sailors to take
care of them four or five weeks while
on the water, and the parties that they
go to write that they get there in good
shape, and do well after they are there.
j. c. S. HAMILTON.
Brdport, VT, November "a, 1913.