Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-23
TO give them the finer and uniform qnality Of

ito give them the finer and uniform qnalty Of
wool down to the fetlock, and an increased
quantity over the whole body, he had SO dis
posed of the breeding that they should pre-
sent their lambs in the fall, instead Of the
spring. He POUNDS the improvement of the
wool of his sheep on the principle, that the
economy and providence of nature are such,
that animals clothed in wool or fur will in
crease or diminish the quantity of either, ac-
cording to the climate, which requires more
or less wool or fur to warm the body
Ii is on this same principle Of the 'econo-
my and providence Of nature that l found
the improvement of the wool of my sheep,
but my manner of doing it is the reverse of
tat Of Col. Jacques. If my views are right,
they may be Of some service to wool-grow-
ers, who would be likely to follow princi-
pie laid down and reduced TO practice by a
person of so much influence as Col. Jacques.
My reasons for adopting a different manner
Of improvement, may he seen in the follow
ing account.
In the fall of 1921, l bought small num-
Der of full-blooded Merino sheep, for the
purpose of increasing my flock and raising
fine wool. For a number of years | allow
cd the buck 10 90 with the flock the year
round, in order that my lambsshould come in
the winter, supposing birth at that season
would have natural influence in producing a
more abundant quantity, and much finer
quality Of wool. In breeding in this way
with the incest care as to male parentage,
found all my young sheep bore wool of al
inferior quality to my original stock. l lat
nearly made up my mind that our country
was not suited to the growth of fine wool ,ant
that in the course Of time the offspring Of fine
Spanish sheep would become assimllatcd to
and lost in, our native breed. From CONVEX
sation and reflection on the subject, conclu
dcd to change my course, and let the mont
of May be the yeaning month, and few
years only were needed to produce change
for the better, as apparent as day from night
All agree that cold climate is calculated t,
produce finer, softer and more abundan
covering for the animal creation, than ho
one and for that reason lamb that is drop
ped in May, or the fore part of June, vii
produce more and better wool than one tina
comes in the fall or winter. By allowing TIN
male to 90 to the female in December, W
| iuNC tiIc WuOlC vi tilC WIitCI IOI tlC III INA
ton of the animal, and with all the othe
parts, every fibre of the wool isiormcd, an
E the lamb is fitted for cold climate with
:, fleece of the finest and warmest kind. Ate
the perfect formation and production of I'll
, animal, the heat of the summer produces n
, change in the quality of the wool, or if any
! it is so slight as to be wholly unperceived.-
! Sheep that are at all times kept in a perfect
! ly healthy condition, continue TO produc
wool equally fine, soft and beautiful, year al
ter year, till visited by old age, and ther
like the hair of an aged person, it become
in some degree more harsh and rigid. B
providing for the birth of lambs in the fal
a gestication is going on during the heat of sum
S mer, and nature, true TO her work, prepare
, the lamb witha hairy, coarse covering, suite
$ 10 warm climate.
J. STEPHEN SIBLEY.