372 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
tions devoted to its interests, and the absence of one 
centralized and directing body. It was not until 1906 that 
any success was attained toward the formation of such a 
national society. In that year, the American and De- 
laine Merino Record Association was formed, by the 
union of the International Delaine, Standard Delaine, 
and Improved Spanish Delaine Merino Sheep Breeders’ 
Associations. Among nearly a score of associations giv- 
ing attention to Merino sheep may be mentioned the 
following, which are concerned especially with the Ameri- 
can Merino: The Vermont Merino Sheep Breeders’ 
Association, United States Merino Sheep Breeders’ 
Association, American Merino Sheep Register Associa- 
tion, Ohio Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders’ Association, 
New York State American Merino Sheep Breeders’ Asso- 
ciation, Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders’ Association, 
Missouri Merino Sheep Breeders’ Association, National 
Merino Sheep Register Association, Standard American 
Merino Sheep Breeders’ Association. Many of these 
associations issue flock-books, and employ a score-card for 
judging purposes. 
Deane Merino SuHeep. Fig. 74. 
458. The word Delaine means “ of wool,” and is from 
the French. Delaine wool can be combed and spun 
with the fibers of full length, making a fabric of great 
strength and durability. The Delaine type, of several 
families, has been developed from importations of Spanish 
Merinos, by selections from several different flocks as 
noted in the following paragraphs. 
459. Families. — The Dickinson Delaines were devel- 
oped from sheep of the Humphrey importation of 1802, 
