Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-03-29

doubling about the necks and body as in some 9TH
focks the crimp in the wool was not so short as
in many other focks, the wool was somewhat lon
ger, but it was close and compact and soft and
silky to the touch and the surface not so much
covered with gum. This flock was originally own
ed by the Carthusan friars Of Pauar, who we're the
best AgrcuItuTists in Spain, and was sold by that
order to the Prince of Peace when he came into
power. The Negretti flock were the talest Merl-
nos in Spaln but were not handsomely formed be-
ing rather flat sided, roach backed, and the neck
inclined to sink down from the withers the wool
was somewhat shorter than the Paular, and more
crimped, the skin was more loose and inclined to
double and many of them were wooded on their
faces, and on their legs down to their hools. All
! the loose skinned sheep had large dewlaps. The
| Agueiras we're short legged, round broad bodied,
with loose skins and were wooded about their |
faces and legs than any other flock ever saw the
wool was more crmpod than tho Paular, and less |
than the Negret but was thick and soft. This !
flock formerly belonged to the Moors of Spain and
at their expulsion bought by the family of A
guirras The wool in England.was known as the
Muros flock and highly esteemed All the
bucks of these focIs had large horns. The Escu-
rial were about tall as the Paulars, but not quite
50 round and broad, being in general rather more
slight in their make, their wool was crimpled but
not so quite so thick the Paular or Negrett nor
were their skins so loose the Negretti and A.
gueirras nor had they SO much wool on the face
and legs.
The Montarcos bore considerable resemblance
to the Escurials. The Escurial flock had formerly
/, belonged to the Crown but when Philip the I'd
} built the Escurial palace, he gave them to the fri
ars whom he had placed i'll convent that was at
tachcd to the palace as a ofrevenue. These
four flocks were moderately gummed The Gau-
) daloupe flock rather larger in the bone than
the two preceding, and about the same height, but
t not quite SO handsomely formed their wool was
e thick and crimped, their skins loose and doubling,
their faces and legs not materially different from
= the two latter focks, but in general they were
i more gummed than either Of the other focks. In
i point of fneness there very little difference
e between these six hocks and as have been told
b by well informed persons there is very little diff
n ference in this respect among the Leonesa Trash
= umantes in general. The Escurial, the Montar-
cos and the Gaudaloupes, were not in general so
heavy horned as the other three flocks, and about
= one in six of the bucks were without horns, or
l. what is commonly called polled buck. had Sc
n lected by the Paular Shepherds who came with
II that flock, 300 sheep, which shipped to Nowbury-
port. The half Of these were Paulars, fourth A.
<, guerras, eighth Escurals and the other eighth
= Montarcos and Negreitis. These | put the
't farm in Weathersfeld, VT, that bought after my
p return to the United States, and also drove up a
e bout hundred the remainder of those had ship
n ped to Boston, In compliance with the invariable
At practice in Spain bred the respective focks sep
% erately or what in farmers language is called in
ID and in the custom in Spain having existed from
3 of the cabannas iocks together, or in and
10 in; but in about 1916 or 1917, mixed the differ
or ent focks together and have so bred my Merinos
AZ or SinSs.
'' About ten years ago, found some 20 or 80 sam
pies of the Paunr flock that was sent me from
~ Spain to Lisbon, and by clipping from my sheep a.
". bout many samples just as they came to hand,
Ut was satisfied that my flock had improved; and
AZ some ten a dozen wool growers who compared
- - the two were decidedly of the same opinion
~ Whether this was owing to mixing the several
nc hocks together to very close attention to the
VI selection of my bucks, cannot say, but the fact
~ unquestionably is well know you say, that
ac many have been attery running about the coun-
VI try putting up their sheep full blood Paulars
r which name has doubtless been adopted because il
nc is generally understood that the Paular flock car
III ried the heaviest leeces but with the exception
LII of or 10 pure blood Merno ewes which have
"a sold within three four years. and about so pure
Gu blood Merino bucks within about five years. dc
not know nor do believe that there is pure blood
"o Merino in the United States besides those which
~, ~ own.
he The reason for this opinion is, that from 1923 t.
of 1896 the rage for Saxony sheep was so great tina
en few or of our wool growers would breed from
Of Merino bucks who could get Saxony, and after tn
ha importation of SaXony in 1886, the Saxones o
arc their crosses within the reach of almost eve
n ry breeder From 1888, as the different prices O
ION wool were in no fair proportion to the difference
20 its quality, the light wool Saxony feeces got dali
be- more and more out of reputc, until we are fnall
his getting into the opposite extreme and giving u
the the fine soft telling woods for the and harsh
rec er and heaviest leeces. This is great error, be
- cause fine woods must always be in demand for gu
,ck superfne broadcloths and cassimeres, and with
A. proper selection of bucks and ewes, feeces avera
new ging three pounds weight may be as easily grow
of fine soft silky wool possessing the feltlng prop
A. erty in the greatest degree, as can be from shee
vas which yield only two pounds and quarter to tw
ock pounds and half fleece. In 1910 very inte
A. ligent London wool broker, who sent to Lisbo
IN for the purchase of wool for several English mar
400 ufacturng establishments, which principal
100 sent there for sale that year. in consequence of tn
I'M French being in possession Of the north Of Spai
md informed me that the Leonesa wool possessed tn
,rk telling property in greater degree than the SAKE
ex ny, and that it used in England for the mani
dies acture of superne cloths in preference to the Sa'
INV ony. Siee that time the Saxony doubtless hi
,da- been improved much, and may have attained
or equal perfection in this respect think there is
ion general error prevailing in our country in regard
,rco WOOL Light ileeces and fine wool almost col
five sidered as synonymous. flock of sheep that wi
orlf Weld three pounds of wool by being evenly fec
AN summer and winter and kept in fair stock case
hin being half starved may be reduced to two pound
of Now no one who knows anything about wool W
icb undertake to contend that this half starved, sick
we're growth of wool will make strong and as durab
and cloth as will healthy growth from the san
mesa sheep, nor will the cloth made from the starvelir
and wool hahuie SO sou ana wen as tlat maze from
oubt healthy wool Sheep, too, which have been W.
10 pastured in summer and half starved in wintC
100 when IL no uncommon case by keeping more sto
ased than our iouder VIII haihtah, VIII nave very
bon equal grown OF WOOL the summer grown WIN
was strong and flexible while the winter growth, thong
:, as shade finer in the fibre, will be dry and tendt
ma and such wool will not make cloth which is slroI
and soft to the touch. The Saxon manufacture
With understand ts principle WELL ana select accor
and hence durable cloths
with the English, and they handle as well notwthstan
,tion ing the superior finish of the English Yet ,
pos hear the wool buyers crying out fine wool, 81
the two pound, two pound and quarter two pou
owl and nan, which seems TO De heir prmclpal sta
atty. dard Tor me WOOL and according 70 ths sanda