204 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



considerable importance, and should be included in this report. The 

 collefje received the horse f. o. b. Middlebury, Vt., and agreed to 

 keep him in good condition and give him a stipulated amount of 

 exercise daily. The service fees go to the college, but the service 

 fee can not exceed $15. Mares bred must be free from draft blood, 

 free from pacing gait, without manifest defects of conformation such 

 as curby liocks, and free from the following unsoundnesses: Bone 

 spavin, ringbone, sidebone, heaves, stringhalt, lameness of any kind, 

 roaring, periodic ophthalmia, and blindness, partial or complete. It 

 is interesting to note that the college has discjualified almost as many 

 mares as have been bred. 



The following statement shows the number of horses on the Morgan 

 Horse Farm on June 30, 1911 : 



ARMY HORSE BREEDING. 



Although the desired appropriation for the encouragement of the 

 breeding of horses for the United States Army was not provided by 

 Congress, a small beginning has been made and the plan presented 

 in my last report is being tested experimentally, as described in an 

 earlier part of this report. 



SHEEP AND GOAT INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work in Wyoming in breeding range sheep has progressed very 

 satisfactorily during the past year. The ewes gave an 80 per cent 

 crop of good lambs last spring, and those ewes to be carried into the 

 ensuing year sheared 13.1 pounds per head. They stand the range 

 nicely. The 110 yearling ewes which will go into the breeding flock 

 next year are very growthy and strong, and give promise of approach- 

 ing closely the type sought. 



The Southdowai flock at the Morgan Horse Farm, Middlebury, Vt., 

 has been maintained at a high standard, and accurate records are 

 being kept of cost of keep and of production. The spring lamb crop 

 was satisfactory. 



At the experiment farm at Beltsville, Md., sufficient Barbados ewes 

 have been bred pure to maintain the flock, and the rest have been 

 bred to a Karakul ram. to determine the possibility of producing 

 Afghan skins in the United States. • 



The Merino-Barbados-Southdown crosses breed at any time of the 

 year, and each cross shows improvement in wool and mutton form. 



Tlie native goats were milked after the last kidding and gave fair 

 results. 



A few samples of wool have been collected and arranged for display 

 and study. 



