EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI EIVEK. 509 



and defined as to entitle it to a place among the pure-blooded varieties 

 of the country, and that the different flocks from which selections were 

 made as foundations for future breeding were such as traced back to 

 early importations of Spanish Merino. Additional blood has been com- 

 bined with the Spanish Merino blood by judicious selections from the 

 best and purest Merino blood to be obtained in the United States. The 

 association makes no claim to line breeding, as the Spanish Merino has 

 been bred, and while not disclaiming any introduction of Spanish blood, 

 they make the legitimate deduction that, as the Spanish Merino is the 

 parent stock of all families of the American Merino, therefore a cross of 

 any of the pure-bred families of Merinos with any other flock of the 

 same blood in nowise vitiates the purity of the blood of the progeny 

 of such a cross. Thus a cross between the Black-Tops, so called, and 

 Spanish Merino but brings together like blood and secures a cross as 

 opposed to in-and-in breeding, which sooner or later impairs the vitaUty 

 and leads to degeneracy and decay. Victor-Beall Delaine Merino is 

 claimed as such a selection from Black- Top and Spanish Merino as 

 secures the desirable characteristics of each family, and, as far as pos- 

 sible, avoids that which is objectionable in either. Moreover, this 

 family of sheep has been bred and kept in large flocks without housing 

 in summer, and bred also to produce a straight sheep foot in order 

 thereby to avoid one of the most perplexing evils with which the breeder 

 has to contend — a spongy, clubby foot, predisposed to disease.* 



The special characteristics of the Delaine Merino may be gathered 

 from the established scale of points as given by the Delaine Merino 

 Sheep Breeders' Association, in their Register : 



No. points. 



(1) Constitution 10 



(2) Heavy round the heart 6 



(3) Short, heavy neck 6 



(4) Good dewlap 5 



(5) Broad hack 8 



(6) Well sprung ribs 5 



(7) Short legs 6 



(8) Heavy hone 8 



(9) Small, sharp foot 10 



(10) Length of staple one year's growth, 3 inches 8 



(11) Density of fleece 8 



(12) Darkish coat on top 5 



(13) Opening up white 5 



(14) Good flow of white oil 5 



(15) Good crimp in staple 5 



Perfection 100 



The weight of rams at maturity is not less than 150 pounds, and the 

 ewes not less than 100 pounds. As to details, the constitution must 

 be robust, the eyes bright, the body compactly built, head and neck on 



* National Delaine Register, Vol. in, p. 19. 



