THE DELAINE MERINO 519 



The distribution of the Delaine is widespread in the United 

 States. Many flocks are found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Vir- 

 ginia, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The fine-wool type 

 of sheep east of the Mississippi, however, is not holding its- 

 own, the mutton breeds taking its 'place. The Delaine, however, 

 being essentially a mutton as well as wool sheep, is bound to 

 have many adherents. Sheep of this type are also bred more or 

 less in Texas and the Southwest, and in the northwestern states 

 of Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho. 



The promotion of Delaine Merino sheep began in an official 

 way with the organization of the Victor-Beall Delaine Merino 

 Sheep Breeders' Association in Pennsylvania in 1882. In 1887 

 this name was changed to the National Delaine Merino Sheep 

 Breeders' Association, which was still in existence in 1918, with 

 headquarters in Washington County, Pennsylvanin. In 1890 the 

 Standard Delaine Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders' Association 

 was' organized in Pennsylvania, and the same year the Improved 

 Delaine Merino Sheep Breeders' Association was incorporated 

 at Columbus, Ohio. In 1882 the Ohio Spanish Delaine Merino 

 Sheep Breeders' Association was organized. In 1883 the Black- 

 Top Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders' Association organized in 

 Washington County, Pennsylvania, and in 1885 the Improved 

 Black-Top Merino Association organized in the same state. In 

 1884 the Dickinson Delaine Merino Sheep Breeders' Association 

 was organized in Ohio. Each of these associations published a 

 few flock books and registered thousands of sheep. The result 

 of so many associations for registration and keeping records of 

 Delaine Merinos caused considerable discussion and criticism 

 for the lack of harmony among the breeders. In January, 1906, a 

 conference of Delaine Merino breeders met at Columbus, Ohio, 

 consisting of members of a number of different registry associa- 

 tions, on which occasion it was agreed that consolidation was 

 desirable. As a result the Improved Delaine, Standard Delaine, 

 and International Delaine associations consolidated to form the 

 American Delaine-Merino Record Association. The object of 

 the new association is to promote the purity of breeding, register- 

 ing, and preserving the American Merino sheep without special 

 emphasis being placed upon the type recorded. 



