186 State Board of Agriculture, &c. 



Brother sheep breeders of Vermont, we have had of late 

 a dark night of depression in our business. During this 

 time a Victor Wright, Edwin Hammond, Judge Colburn, 

 and Nathan Gushing have passed beyond this life. Thev 

 were some of the pioneers and landmarks to us in sheep 

 breeding. We remember their many acts of kindness with 

 gratitude. Their loss we deeply deplore. Their flocks of 

 sheep have to some extent been scattered ; some of them 

 have been sold and gone to distant lands, carrying with 

 them a o-ood name into other lands. But we will not be 

 discouraged, for the night, although long and dark, is fad- 

 ing away and the dawn is appearing. Already unmistaka- 

 ble signs of returning prosperity greet us on every hand. 

 Let us rally to our work, which is to show to the world by 

 our acts and deeds that the fine wool sheep breeding of 

 Vermont is neither waxing cold nor disappearing, but that 

 its course is onward in the march of improvement. 



