Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-11-05
AGRICULTURE AL,
Farmers in the State House.

on said, if be must be the first to remark upon
the subject, he would open the field wide, and
leave it for others to fill he would divide the
different kinds of sheep with which he was ac-
quainted into six classes, though ne should not
touch upon every variety. LIST. Native breed-2d.
Native crossed with Merino-3rd. Native cross
ed with saxony-4th. Saxony crossed with Me-
rino-5th. Saxony, full-blood-Gth. Melino,
full-blood
Native breed, common sheep Farmers ought
not TO breed such sheep while they shear a
light fleece it is at the same time a coarse one,
neither profitable to the farmer nor the manufac-
turer
Native crossed with Merino Tolcrably good
sheep,-the best cross that can be made with
our common or native sheep.
Native crossed with Saxony Not good, it
should never be attempted
Saxony crossed with Merino Good sheep, if
the eve be saxony the buck should not be of
our largest class of Merno. The difficulty will
be in rearing lambs, if the buck should be of
the larger class
SaXony fuII-bIood Too tender a sheep for
Vermont, unless the breeder iswing to subject
himself to extra labor and expense in his care
Of them, and in providing good shelter and pro-
lection in winter. (Though any sheep should
have shelter in winter in Vermont)
The Saxony he would put into two classes.
The first, the long, white, open wool, free from
oil, light fleece, profitable for the manufacturer ;
yet the purchaser does not encourage the raising
such wool by the price he is pleased to pay
This wool is fine
2nd Class about as fine as the other not as
profitable to the manufacturer, but more so to
the iarmer-they are more hardy, better protect
ed by heavier fleeces, the wool not as long but
more compact, darker shade on the surface
Merino. The first class which he would no
tlce is the gummy, rather short wool, compact,
rather harsh to the feel-uneyen, fine on the
shoulder, but coarse on the fank-objected to
this kind of sheep, it cannot be washed clean
in the ordinary mode Of washing. 1t was a
great mistake that farmers bred this class of
sheep. They have been induced to do so from
the fact that the purchaser has made / ut little
distinction in his purchases. The farmers of
Vermont have aimed to secure weight of fleece,
regardless Of what it was composed.
3D. Another class, even, fine on the shoulder
and flank, long open wool, not much OIL no gum
not very heavy Aeeces, but profitable to the man
uiacturer-easily wet through by rain and sleet
in winler-need good shelter
3D.. Another, medium Class, equally as fine
as the last mentioned, nearly as fine as the Sax
ony wool-thck, long staple, and oily, and a
dark surface, may be washed clean in the ordi-
nary mode Of washng-should not be allowed
to run long after washing. The best kind Of
sheep for the Vermont farmer; while it gi1es te
the farmer good fleece, it cannot be objected
to by the manufacturer The wool will com
mand price nearly equal to the Saxony.
MI. Couant of Brandon being calIed-wa.
ready to say, if he took any interest in farming
it was in sheep husbandry He started a nov
ice in the business, but soon found GOOD sheen
He could not recommend SNony sheep; the,
needed protection by shelter as their wool af
iorded no shelter at all. The class Of sheeI
recommended lastly by Mr.. Gregory was thG
best.
1t is the interest Of Vermont to raise fue wool
add the merino with fine wool and oily is the
right kind
The Rambuoiet have great uniformity il The
| fineness free from gum, and frmness Of WOO
which protects from the weather-a hardy, ro
bust kiud-may shear lbs, average
He alluded to another description The
| ENGLISH T,Ouu-W ool"-thev want hiqh feed
cross of this breed with mernos makes goot
mutton.
Mr.. Bell of Walden, called said he com
menced with mixture of Saxony and Merinc
procured fine bucks but could not get flock
leeces average 10 pounds Bought anothe
flock, Native crossed with Merino; wool, fine
and white, average nearly Abs
Adjourned.
Oct, %. Met pursuant to adjournment
Hon. D. w Aiken of Hardwck was callec
to the chair
Mr.. Wright of Shoreham, being called, SAID
he had been engaged in raising merinos of (
kinds. His sheen were mixture of the Cock