The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-12-30
SHEEP HUSBANDRY.

SHEEP HUSBANDRY.
L. TUCKER, ESQ., have noticed many
articles in your paper headed Heavy Flee
ces-Fine Sheep" As have been wool
grower for the last thirty years, and have sell
dom, il ever, in that time, wintered less than
300, it seems not improper for me also, for
once, TO speak on this subject. l commen-
ced early with half blood merinos; and in
1922. selected 90 ewes from lot of full
blooded merinos in WATERFOWL, Conn. A
bout 1924, our late Chief Justice, X. Skinner,
purchased lot Of full blooded merinos. from
his native county. Litchfeld, Conn, then
called the Humphrey sheep. In 1895. he
purchased Saxsny buck. The soab got in
to his flock, and in his absence to the south
ern States, by neglect of good care, large
number Of his flock OF 500 died, and fortu-
nstely, some would say. his Saxony buck a.
mong the number. On his return, in 1927.
purchased his entire Eeck of ewes. abonr
$50. | have bred from the full blooded meri-
no since then. and mostly from bucks from
Consul Jarvis's flock. have had three bucks
and few ewes from the Shaker flock, En-
field, n. Ii.
My manner Of improving my flock has been
the following: No observing wool-growe
can have failed to notice, that as great differ
ences exist among sheep. as to the length,
thickness, and fneness of wool, as of the hair
of the COW. The first care of good dairy
man is to select his cows hest for milk guam
tity and quality. Build is second object
By proper crossing Of these selections, our
best breeds OF cattle are produced. | have
had ewes apparently from the same original
stock. one at three years old, producing bur
three pounds Of DOL, and a miserable lamb
another Of the same age, and in the same or
der, shearing 5 Ia lbs. and raising good
lamb. The fleece Of the first will be short
thin, and Of rotten, deadly appearance
The other long, thick, and Of fine, silky.
lively appearance. This last breed from as
long as good keeping will enable me to. ]
have now a eve Is years old, with likely
lamb by her side, and another, IA years old.
that has raised lamb this year, with as much
grain as both would eat. which at seven
months old, weighed 100 pounds. From =
flock of 800, select annually. 100 for breed
ing, in the spring before shear;ng, two years
old and upwards. From this selection ]
mark 90 or 30 of those which have thick, |
long, fine wool, free from gum or jar, or any
appearance of coarse wool or hair OIL the |
flank or tail. The female part OF the increase |
of this selection are preserved; without this |
attention TO marking the best ewes before |
shearing. the best of the flock will be dispo-
sed of after shearing. | give my 100 ewes SIX |
quarts Of corn per day. My lambs seldom
have any grain. The remainder of The flock
have no grain. All are housed 10 the winter,
and have access TO good water and salt at all
times. have many ewes which from old
age shear light leeces. Yet my whole flock
of over 300, Weld lbs. 4 ounces per head.
have no 10 to 13 ID. fieeces. My heaviest
buck fleece weighed l-2 lbs.
There is but little known as TO the weight
of wool from the weight OF the fleece. tri-
ed the experiment once upon two bucks.-I
One weighed over lbs, aud the otEer Ia
lbs, both in the same order aud washed alike.
The largest fleece weighed after being clean
sed, 3 10 lbs. and the other lbs. l do not
believe fine wooded sheep can be produced
in Vermont, that will in one year yield lbs.
well cleansed wool. hope your correspon-
dents will send you the amount of the fleece
we'll cleaused. and the price their wool bIings
his wear. I sold my last years clip the 9Th I
IF last March. and this years clip last month. l
The average price Of both clips is ~ CTS. '
During the last seven years II IS as follows: 5
Wv clip of 1912 and 1913 sold in lS43, at a. 5
Sc. 43. As, 46, and 20 cents.
If the wool-g,ower will look back 10 the b
,rices of those years, he will find the tariff has
lad but little effect upon the prices. This
nmping out and into ship at every session OF
Congress, is what ruins tine wool-grower.-
lie must expect ups and downs in prices; that
, the lot of all. fear not the west. The p
Increase of sheep, Zine sheeP') does not keep W
ace with the increase Of population. Fine :.
heep never can survive the cold rains of The "
,estern praises. Fine wool yields better
rofit to The farmer even at this time than any II
ther agricultural business. This is the hrs' u
me have spoken. therefore please eA "
use my long yarn. =
Manchester, w.. Oct. %, 1s45. d
Albany Cultivator.