512 SHEEP 1NDUSTEY OF THE UNITED STATES 



any one point it can not be admitted, even though the sire and dam 

 are recorded. In this way the association hopes to dispose of all the 

 culls which are said to be burdensome to all other registers. The mem- 

 bership of this association embraces breeders of (the States of Penn- 

 sylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. Mr. S. M. Cleaver, of 

 East Bethlehem, Washington County, the secretary of this association, 

 made a show of the Standard Delaine sheep at the Washington County 

 fair, in September, 1891, and carried off all the first premiums offered 

 for lambs. 



The improvement looked for by the Standard Delaine Spanish Merino 

 Association may be stated in the words of its secretary, in a circular 

 letter of April 2, 1890 : 



We want to encourage the improvement of the Delaine type of the Merinos, giving 

 them a better surface, more density, more weight of fleece, and better quarters than 

 we find in the Delaine type. We think this can be done by breeding from the deep- 

 bodied, plain ram, having a long staple of wool; or if the ewes are very wrinkly, a 

 Delaine ram from a plain-bred flock would better meet the wants of breeders in pro- 

 ducing this type. Any pure Merino blood, descendants of the blood-line registers, 

 are recognized where they have individual merit that will scale in accordance with 

 our rules. The demand of the times calls for a plain body growing a Delaine staple. 

 Long experience teaches us that it is almost impossible to keep up density and 

 weight of fleece to give the best results when wrinkles are entirely done away with; 

 for this reason it is important to stay in the blood of wrinkly sheep in selecting the 

 sires, yet striving to keep the body clear of wrinkles and the neck nearly so. It is 

 proposed to pay more attention to a good, broad back, and deep, round quarters, 

 making a type easily kept in order. While the fleece will not be as heavy as in the 

 wrinkly type, it should weigh from 7 to 9 pounds, and sell without any reduction. 

 This will equal an oily fleece of 12 to 14 pounds, with a third taken off by the wool 

 buyer. Plain sheep, as a rule, are better milkers, more careful mothers, have better 

 feet, are easier to prepare for the butcher's block. By having access to the different 

 types of the Merino sheep we think we will be able to produce a more profitable 

 wool and mutton Merino than can be found at the present time. But it will require 

 careful scaling of all sheep admitted, and then we must scale the increase to keep 

 out all culls. In this way we will be able to raise the merit. 



Scale of points adopted by the Standard Delaine Spanish Merino Register. 



(1) Pure Merino blood, which must be established by certificate. 



(2) Constitution, indicated by a deep chest, long rib well arched, giving heart 



and lung room, with great digestive capacity 20 



(3) Fleece XX and Delaine wool. This includes the quantity and quality as 



shown by weight of fleece, the length and strength of staple, crimp, fine- 

 ness and trueness of fiber 10 



(4) Density of fleece 3 



(5) Evenness of surface 3 



(6) Evenness of crimp 3 



(7) Length of fiber 2 



(8) Free flowing oil of the best quality and the right quantity to protect the 



sheep and preserve the fleece 9 



(9) Head, medium size. Ewes showing a feminine appearance; rums, a mascu- 



line, with properly turned horns 4 



(10) Eyes bright, prominent, and well set apart, with a thick, soft eyelid 3 



(11) Nose short, broad, with well-expanded nostrils, skin thick, and covered 



with a thick furry coating, joining the wool 1 inch below the eyes 4 



