The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-08-17
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Farmers Monthly Visitor
HOW DOES THE CLIMATE AFFECT
THE STAPLE OF WOOL2
HoPKrNToN, N. H., July 1st, 1871,

IlOPhiNl ON. '. lis. July ISL, lOflp
Hon. Isaac HW.-In the Visitor OF Yesterday,
now before me, | find a very interesting account
Of Col. Jacques, his farm, and his stock-but
more especially interesting is his account Of the
management of his stock, and his theory for
improvement. | will touch only upon his theory
respecting his fl lck of South Downs. He states
that "to give them the finer and uniform quality
of wool down to the fellnck, and an increased
quantity over the whole body, he had so disposed
OF the breeding that they should present their
lambs in the fall, instead of the spring." He
POUNDS the improvement of the wool of his sheen
on the principle, "that the economy and provi-
dence of nature are such, that animals clothed in
wool or fur will increase OF diminish the quantity
O feither, according to the climate, which requires
more or less wool or fur 10 warm the body"
1t is on this same principle of the economy
and providence Of nature" that | found the i'm
provement of the whole of my sheep, but my
manner of doing il is the reverse Of that of Col.
Jacques. If nv views are right, they may be of
some service 10 woo-growers, who would be
likely to follow a principle laid down and re-
duced to practice ty a person of so much influ-
ence as Col. Jacques. My reasons for adopting
a different manner of improvement, may be seen
IN the following account.
In 1921, | boughta small number of lull-b'ood-
ed Merino sheep, for the purpose Embarrassing my
flock and raising fine wool. For a number oil
years | allowed the buck to go with The flock the
year round. in order that my lambs should come
in the winter, supposing birth at that season
would have a natural influence in producing a
more abundant quality, and a much finer quail
ty of wool. In breeding in this way with the
incest care as 10 male parentage. | found all my
Young sheep bore wool OF ali inferior qnality tC
my original stock: l had nearly made up my
mind that our country was not suited TO the
growth of fine wool, and that in the course o
time the offspring of fine Spanish sheep would
become assimilated to, and lost in, our native
breed. From conversation and reflection on
the subject, | concluded to change my course,
and let the month of NAY be the yeaning month,
and a few years only were needed 10 produce a
change for the better, as apparent as day from
night. All agree that a cold climate is calculated
TO produce a finer. softer and more abundant
covering for the animal creation, than a hot one
and for that reason a lamb that's dropped in May,
or the fore part of June, will produce more and
peuer wool than one that comes in the fall or
"ln'er. by allowing the male to 90 TO the fe-
Ahaie Decemoer, we have the whole of the
J winter lot Inc formation Of the animal, and with
all the other parts, every fibre of the wool Is
formed, and the lamb is fitted for a cola cIiuoto
with a fleece of the finest and warmest kind,
After the perfect formation and production Of
the animal, the heat of the summer produces nc
change in the quality of the wool, or if any, it is
so slight as 10 be wholly unperceived. Sheer
that are at all times kept in a perfectly healthy
condition., continue 10 produce wool equally fine
SOFT and beautiful, year after year, till visited by
oia age, and then, like the hair of an aged person
II becomes IN some degree mere harsh and rigiC
by providing for the birth of lambs in the fall
geStlcatlon Is going on during the heat of sum
. mer, and nature true to her work, prepares The
lamb with a hairy, coarse covering, suited to
warm climate.
STEPHEN SHELLEY.
FREE TRADE--'Let our york. shops renal,
~ Europe The Census for 1910 show,