Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-21
SHEEP,

SHEEP.
Mr.. EDIToR:-A have delayed answering you
favored letter until now, for reasons that would be
entirely satisfactory if written. | am heartily glat
of contributing my small mite to promote the in
terest and welfare of an agricultural paper OF ou
own State, however meagre it must appear, ant
hope that every farmer through the State will forth
with sen in their names to become subscribers fol
the Visitor. What is one dollar year? Why
the information derived from the last number will
richly pay man for his whole subscription
And now little about the sheep. The above
portrait was drawn by Charles Rodgers, one of the
most celebrated craftsmen in our land, and engrav-
ed by John Gay. | purchased him IN the spring OF
1874 of Messrs. David and German Cutting, for the
sum OF $50. He is now three years old, and have
refused 5000 for HIM. He is certainly very re-
markable animal; he has very proud and lofty
carriage and is remarkable for his strength of CON
stution; he is low upon the leg, broad and square
with deep, heavy chest, and exhibits great apti
tude for fattening. He has proved himself superb
or as to stock, which would satisfy any man better
to see it than to have it told him. He produces a
long staple of wool, which is remarkable for its
compactness. One of his lambs, mentioned in
your last number. page II, now owned by Rev. IL
G. Bingham, is of his sire, raised by myself. lis
pedigree is the same of the ewes. have l25 full
blooded Spanish Paular Merlno ewes, with lambs
by their sides. purchased them in the year 1914,
60 from the celebrated flock Of Joseph l. Bailey,
r. l. They were imported in 1879 or 10 by Paul
Calf and James DeWoof and purchased from the
wharf by Mr.. Baileys father, who warrants me that
they have been bred pure since, always cross
ing with bucks of his own raising. They are well
formed, low upon the leg, heavy bone, thick, heavy
necks, with large dewlaps and much ruilled, (par-
ticulary the bucks noble countenances with great
strength of constitution, long and fine staple Of
wool and very much compacted on the surface.-
They were shorn about the middle of June, run
ming ten days without washing and not running
out their year into fifteen days. They sheared as
follows:
R. |. ewes l sheared lbs. of well washed WOOL
sheared between and 9 lbs each.
45 sheared between and lbs each.
The whole averaging lbs. | IA OF.
As yearings ewes, the same blood, averaged 5
lbs. l33 OF.
ssearlings bucks sheared from 6 to lbs.
52yearlings Gaudaloupes breeding ewes sheared
from to g. lbs, averaging trihe under lbs.
each, all well washed.
have stock bucks
Vermont Hero sheared IA lbs. Q OF.
American Tiger, 3 years, II lbs. 10 OF,
John Quincy, years old, 9 lbs. ii OF.
lvanhoe, years old, 8 lbs. Is
My whole flock consists of $50 full bloods and
over 400 cross bloods, which are of the highest
grade merino, my graded sheep averaging little
less than 4, lbs per head My sheep we're tho
roughly washed, and sheared in ten days after
washing. Their wool is very long and of white
complexion, and it exhibits Il high telling property
rather free from oil, and entirely destitute of gum
only native oil enough to give fine feel. This
springs lambs are large and fine, for some of which
have refused $50 head.
My particular management is something like
this: in the first place select my sheep into small
lots according to their strength and age, keeping
them so summer and winter shelter every sheep
from the storms in winter | do not allow my sheep
to get wet, from the time they enclosed in the
yards for fodderiug until they are turned out to
grass in the spring. give my sheep plenty OF
good hay, fed under sheds in bad weather. and out
IN good. feed but little gran-if give them
grain at all, feed them little from the time grass
begins to fail until after the three first weeks OF
foddering and then few weeks between hay and
grass, as we farmers term it.
have made this hasty sketch, hoping that it may
contribute some good to many, as well asa small
share to myself Al. BINGHAM.
Cornwall, Aug. z, l645.