Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-02-19
REPORT ON SHEEP.

In awarding premiums on sheep the Committee
of the Addison County Agricultural Society sub
mitted the following remarks which are well worth
the attention of wool-growers
Your Committee, aware of the great and increas
ing Importance of the wool growing business in
the United States, beg leave to submit few brief
remarks upon the subject generally. It appears
that between 1901 and 1871 Messrs. Livingston,
Humphrey, and Jarvis foreseeng the great impor-
lance of growing wool in this country, imported
IRON France and Spain the first Spanish Merino
sheep. From these and subsequent mportations
OF the Spanish and Saxon Sheep by other spirited
gentlemen (ihe particulars of which all ol-grow-
efs are more or less acquanted,) crossed upon each
o'her and upon our native sheep, form at present
the most nume rous breed of sheep in this country
There are also the Cotswold feicesers, South
Down, and other varieties Of the ENGLISH sheen
with their long coarse wool, well adapted TO partic-
uar purposes
But your committee deem it of the utmost in,
portance TO the wool-growers Of Addison County
to ascertain by demonstration and experiment the
most profitable breed of sheep all things consider
ed) yet introduced to the notice of the farmer We
are aware that some difference of opinion still OK
lists in regard to the nett profits of raising the diff
iercnt grades of wool grown in this country. It
is some 20 years since the frs: introduction of tho
Saxony sheep here, and in some parts of the coun-
try the blood has become pretty thoroughly ncor-
porated into our focks; and many that were fore
most in introducing the Saxomos have long since
Invested their locks of every particle of the Saxon
blood. There are others, believe, that continue
to improve the quality of their wool. by crossing
the Saxons with the Merinos But for few wears
past the greater portion of the wool-growers of Ad-
olson County have probably sought to obtain and
improve from the large and heavy feeced Mernos
If the growing of fine woods, which but few years
since was thought by our most iudcious men to be
the best business that farmers could enter into
| hprnmp abandoned for tbo Loo,
| tleeced merno-t appears proper to your commit
tee that we should inquire into and investigate the
cause Of these fluctuations.
And to US 1t appears very perceptibe. The long
| looked for, and much desired equality in the pur-
chase of woods in proportion to the relative costs
OF growing, has not yet been realized aud while
the farmer who grows Saxony wool has been strug-
Cling to establish his equation as a grower of fine
wool, the owners of the heavy feecet Merino have
been growing rich at his expense And how, it
may be asked, is all this brought about 1t lies
not IN the secret, but In the open management of
buying up the different qualities of wool in the
country While it costs the grower of fine wool,
with feeces averaging l2 lbs, at least 10 cents
without leaving him any profts-the growers of
the heavy Merino is making fair profit at prices
varying from 25 TO 80 cents. There is in the opn-
ion Of your committee, difference of at least 10
cents in pound in the cost of growing SaXony
and Merino woods, while the purchaser seldom
makes difference Of more than from 3 to >. To
your committee, this appears to be very plain and
obvious reason why so many of the growers of the
Saxony and grade woods are changing their focks
for the heavy jar and yok fleeced Merlnos.
But there is another consideration that presents
itself to the view Of your committee and ought to
arrest the attention of wool growers generally.
Although no equivalent distinction has yet been
made in the purchase of our woods, here is some
thing new to attract our attention. Old England
is at this time making orders to some extent
for wool. How long this may continue, or what
effect it may have on the ol-growing interest,
your committee would not at this time pretend to
dete rmine.
And then again it may be asked why do the
English come to the United States to buy wool
The reason appears in the fact that wool at this
time s'cheaper here than it is in Europe And if
the English manufacturer come here for wools it
is not the coarse but the fine woods that they will
want. Your committee therefore hope at least,
that this outlet may prove sufficient to give new
impetus TO the growing of fine woods.
Another very important fact we would ask leave
briefly to present for examinations Within few
Yeas past the North Western States of our Union
have made rapid advances in the growing of WOOL
That they are destined to become the producers of
large quantities of the article is not for a moment
to be doubted; but the quality of wool which they
will be most likely to grow in that section of coun-
try is question that most interests the wool-grow
ers OF Addison County. Should it not be found
practicable for the Western people after thorough
trial to grow any thing but the middng and
coarser qualities, the injury that wool growing
interest will receive from that quarter will not be
as great as many at present are anticipating. The
fact that coarse woods can be grown on the wide
Praires Of the West for less money than the same
qualities can be grown in Vermont is perhaps as
undenlable as that bushel Of wheat can be grown
for less money there than here.
1t is the opinion of your committee that this is a
matter worthy of the serious investigation of every
woo-grower in Addison County. And should it
be found that the climate and locality of that coun-
try is not congenial to the growth of fine wool
as ours, we may then consider with some prospect
of expectation the field opened anew for the grow
ing Of fine wools
In conclusion, your committee would crave one
moments further Indulgence from the Society
and without assuming greater latitude than is nat
urally due 20 the station we have been called to fill,
would recommend to our brother wool-growers that
breed of sheep that combines as far as possible the
following excellent qualities:
LIST, A beautiful symmetry throughout; such as
a straight round trunk with full belly, a stout
neck, broad head with pretty clean face, well
spread stfe all of which should be supported by
short and bony limbs, sure presages Of great lon
gevity.
Cd. Good size, without any wrinklng or doubling
of the skin, which, in the opinion of your commit
tee, is neither indicative of pure blood, fine wool
or strong constitution
Sd. coat of wool, the staple long, thick, fine,
and soft TO the feel-avodng most scrupulously all
appearance of jar iuany part of the fleece also Of
too much yolk, but go for wool, clean wool, fine
wool, and that even as possible on every part of
the sheep.
J. N. SMITH, for Committee.
To CURE BURN A Quakeress preacher in
New. York. was so successful in curing burns that
many of the lower classes supposed her possessed
of the power of working mirae les The following