322 SHEEP INDUSTRY OP THE UNITED STATES 



tive prizes or awards where the prizes were given for the best only. 

 The sweepstakes prize of awards for the "best American Merino ram 

 of any age" was given to H. C. Burwell, Bridport, Yt., for his ram Bis- 

 marck. Bismarck weighed in fall fleece 170 pounds, and was one of 

 the most perfect types of an American Merino ever seen. In form and 

 general contour he was of the short-horn pattern. Back straight 

 throughout and very broad, while at the same time he had great depth 

 of carcass. He possessed a wonderful constitution and stamped his 

 own impress in a marked degree, and was a very successful sire of both 

 rams and ewes. His head was short, broad, and well carried up; nose 

 short, of good breadth, well wrinkled, and very soft and silky to the 

 touch. Fleece very dense, even, of most excellent style and quality, 

 highly crimped, opened in flakes free without cross fiber and covered 

 him to perfection at all points, notably so on head and legs. Staple, 

 24 inches long; fiber, 3J inches long. His oil was slightly buff in color, 

 circulated freely throughout the fleece, and coated him extremely well 

 on the surface. His neck was one of the heaviest ever carried by a 

 Merino ram and was proportionately folded at hip, tail, flank, and at 

 point of shoulder. He also had some heavy side folds which ran well 

 under and across the belly. His heaviest fleece was 32^ pounds; sixth 

 fleece 31J pounds. 



There was a prize of $100 offered by the Pennsylvania State Agri- 

 cultural Society for the best flock of Merino sheep, to consist of one 

 ram and four ewes, bred and exhibited by one breeder. This prize was 

 taken by Joseph T. Stickney, of Shoreham, Vt. Centennial, which 

 stood at the head of the flock, was a strong, vigorous, well-made ram, 

 attractive and showy in general appearance, and weighed in full fleece 

 165 pounds. His folds were well placed to suit modern fashion, being 

 massed at neck, tail, hip, thigh, and flank, with a due proportion on 

 the under side. His fleece was dense and well carried all around. It 

 was even, of good quality and well crimped, and opened in flakes. Oil 

 bufi', heavy, and well distributed; length of staple, 2 J inches; length of 

 fiber, 3^ inches; weight of fleece, 35 pounds. 



The revision of the tariff in 1883 checked the Merino sheep industry 

 in Vermont, and sales in 1884 of well-bred Merinos were limited. Many 

 of the small flocks of the State were kept intact, but without increase, 

 while others were wiped out entirely. Common flocks suffered much 

 reduction, due to the low price of wool and the bad outlook for the 

 future. In 1885 there was a small increase in business and a better 

 feeling among breeders. There were some compensating features in 

 the depression of the wool industry beginning in 1883 and extending 

 to 1887 and 1888. Flocks were judiciously cleared of inferior sheep 

 and the quality of those retained greatly improved by more care. For 

 three and four years past many of the best sheep of Vermont have been 

 exported to Australia and other foreign parts and sold at good prices. 

 The Vermont rams crossed on the Australian ewes give an increase in 



