Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/252

242 This was the order of J. G. Edwards, treasurer, and shows enterprise worthy of his company.

I have thus briefly touched the historical origin of what I am not alone in deeming the greatest Merino breeding station in the world at present. Fourteen thousand selected pure Merino ewes, giving opportunity to place annually to the service of flock owners 5,000 head of choice breeding sheep, and on the wool market 500,000 pounds of fine wool. The basic security for doing this is the annual harvest of 2,500 tons of alfalfa hay in addition to 30,000 acres of carefully selected land for pasture and hay production.

The representative of the American Sheep Breeders and Wool Growers, himself a Merino breeder in Ohio, was so impressed by the superior size of these Eastern Oregon bred sheep that he sent one back to Ohio as a specimen.

In addition to this leading Merino breeding plant there are at least four others in Eastern Oregon which would be deemed large in any other state or country. Allan & LaFollett of Prineville have an annual output of rams for the trade of 1,000 to 1,200. As many are now marketed from Antelope. From Heppner E. F. Day has 1,000 to 1,200, and A. Lindsay from 500 to 600 head. Charles Cunningham of Pendleton, who began breeding thoroughbred Merino in 1871, two years in advance of Doctor Baldwin, has, in addition to several large bands of stock sheep, over 8,000 thoroughbred ewes, and his sales of rams has for years past been upwards of 3,000 annually, a record he will surpass the present season. His stock is mainly of the Rambouillet and Delaine types of Merino. This makes Mr. Cunningham the largest individual breeder and a pioneer in the business in Eastern Oregon, and swells the total output to the trade to more than 12,000, which, by the aid of middlemen, who make a business of it, disseminates this means of