Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/251

Rh 60 head of young rams, the most inferior looking one in the lot being a high-priced yearling recently received from Vermont. The alfalfa fed Pacific Coast bred sheep, averaged larger and had better fleeces than their Vermont progenitors, because the plains of California are under a better growing climate than that of Vermont, though that was not perfect, because of excessive heat at times during summer. This same season I had seen the choice ram flock of the Baldwin Sheep and Land Company, who were at the time drawing their means of improvement from Mr. Bullard; and again their stock appeared and I think were an improvement on his. Alfalfa was the basis feed in each case, but the Oregon bred sheep had the ideal sheep pastures on the slopes of the Blue Mountains to run on, and not a day in the year that was not stimulative to growth of flesh and wool fibre.

I may appear to be writing inconsistently in claiming superiority for this company, but the foundation was laid by the individual, Doctor Baldwin, in 1873. In March, 1882, he had not yet succeeded with alfalfa. His health was failing, but he had two strong assistants in the Van Houten Bros., who, knowing what was lacking, relieved the failing doctor by purchase and reorganized the business by taking in associates with capital and energy. J. P. Van Houten is still the one to select the fundamental elements of success. President C. M. Cartwright is a cautious and shrewd judge of men and things, and it seems he is ready to spend freely to secure the best whereever it may be found, in which policy he is ably supported by J. G. Edwards. Whether in France or Germany, among the breeders of Rambouillets in Ohio, among the leading American Delaine Merino breeders, or at the Oregon State Fair, where their excellent flock manager, E. H. Dean, had instruction to purchase any sheep, showing points excelling what he had in his care.