EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVEE. 323 



the weight aud density of the fleece, especially over the back aud hips, 

 which helps to keep out the storms and rays of the sun from penetrat- 

 ing the fleece. In 1887 and 1888 many rams were shipped to the Argen- 

 tine Eepublic and to the Cape of Good Hope. 



Within late years there has been a tendency among Vermont wool- 

 growers and among some breeders to grow toward the Delaine type of 

 sheep, to get a mutton and wool combination. This movement is not 

 countenanced, however, by the Vermont Association, who predict that 

 those who cross out to secure that type of sheep will not find in increased 

 size a profitable substitute for liberal keeping. There is also a reviving 

 interest in the French Merino sheep, and there are a few breeders of 

 them. 



The liest breeders of Vermont have continued their efforts to improve their Merino 

 flocks in all desirable points, and have not been induced to give up the great im- 

 provements they have heretofore attained in the destiny and value of their fleeces 

 for the popular cry for smooth sheep bearing long, thin, light fleeces. They still 

 claim the blood of their flocks will be in demand to close up the ranks and call to- 

 gether the flocks scattered by breeding exclusively to rams without folds with long 

 fleeces. Neither have they sacrificed the size and constitutions of their sheep by 

 breeding for small sheep with too large percentage of wool and too many wrinkles, 

 although many breeders may have erred in this direction. Their aim has lieen to 

 increase the size, constitution, and length of staple of the Merinos of Vermont as 

 fast as it can be accomplished without sacrificing the substantial and rare qualities 

 heretofore attained and universally acknowledged as characteristic of the breed as 

 produced by the best breeders of Vermont; not to undertake this in such haste as to 

 create a large, long-legged, gaunt, imperfect-shaped sheep, neither profitable to 

 grow wool or produce mutton. They are not satisfied with rams or ewes that yield 

 less than 10 per cent of wool to gross carcass, nor do they believe that such sheep 

 are more hardy or as profitable as Meriuos that have good average size, hardy con- 

 stitution, and capable of producing 15 to 20 — and in many cases larger — percent- 

 ages of wool, and that will produce wethers weighing, in marketable condition, 

 100 pounds or over, that sell in our chief markets at as high prices as any. This 

 the breeders of Vermont Merinos believe they are capable of doing.* 



The extent of the Vermont Merino industry of breeding and handling 

 pure-bred sheep for fifteen years past may be judged from the fact that in 

 that time the Vermont Merino Sheep-Breeders' Association have regis- 

 tered over 250,000 sheep, probably not less than 300,000, or an average of 

 over 17,000 yearly. Some of these were in other States, but over seven- 

 tenths were from Vermont alone. All were Vermont Merino sheep. 



The future of the industry can not be predicted, but it seenis prom- 

 ising to those who give close attention to breeding and are hberal 

 keepers. The Australian and other foreign appreciation of them seems 

 to be on the increase, and there is a home demand for good sheep at 

 higher prices than for some years past. 



There is a lesson to be learned in the experience of a Vermont breeder 

 of a pedigreed Merino sheep. The foundation is a good ewe of sound 

 constitution and a ram with the same requisites aud undoubted purity 

 of blood. Taken a ewe in good condition and with lamb, she Is fed all 



» Register of the Vermont Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, Vol. iv, 1892. 



