The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-06-02
AGRICULTURAL.
From The Boston Cultirdtor.
MERINO SHEEP.

Messrs Editors The imposltiOns upon
the public, in regard TO Merino sheep, are
reaching TO such an extent. that it becomes
necessary to caution purchasers against
them, to prevent the general deterioration Of
our hocks. II is certain that the woods of
n. E. and eastern n. York, are not so good
now, as they were in 1886; which has been
occasioued by resorting to all sorts of bucks
and ewes to breed from, which carried heav-
Ter 1eeces than ordinary, without the leas;
reference TO the ineness, sof:ness, and fel
ting quality of the wool. The distinguish
ing quality Of the pure blood Merino and
Saxony, over all The other breeds of Europe,
and the rest OF the world, is their silky soft
ness, fexibility and fuling or telling property;
and it is these qualities which constitute their
great superiority, and much higher value
over the woods of all other breeds of sheep.
believe the Spaniards have carried their
Trashumantes Mennos to as high a state Of
perfection, as that animal is capable Of at
tanning, where the weight of the fleece was
combined with the hexibiity Of wool; and it
is certain that the ordinary weight of fleeces
of Spanish bucks in good stock case washed
OIL the sleeps back, was only from four aud
halfto six pounds. Occasionally one would
reach his, but when fed very high they
will often reach from7 TOO lbs. From 50
years experience, | am satisfied that we can
not attain greater weight, without injury to
the wool. The Saxons, in order to obtain
| finer wool, have greatly lessened the weight
of the fleece, but have retained the property
so highly priced in the Spanish the soft sill
ky texture.
We see articles every day in our Agricul-
tural papers, as hippantly descanting about
Merinos, as if the authors had made them
selves acquainted with its valuable proper
| ties on the very soil Of their nativity; but
when we come to probe the depth OF their
knowledge, about this invaluable animal, it
is altogether comprised in pounds and oun-
ces. Why, if the weight of wool is the only
desideratum, they had better get the Lin
colnshire breed. from which they may OBJ
tain from to Is lbs. ofheece, very well suit
ed for the manufacture of blankets, dufils,
&c. &c.
And we hear others discussing very famil-
iarly about Paular sheep, the most Of whom
will venture to aver never saw Paular
Merino in their lives.-The five cabannas or
hocks which exported to this country. af-
ter reaching here, were mixed up together,
generally, when the breeders confined them
selves to Merinos; and although for three
or four years. attempted TO keep the several
cabaHnas or flocks distinct. yet finding it was
causing me more trouble than could be COM
pensated by any possible benefit that was
i likely TO result from il, subsequently mixed
the five flocks, | imported, together, and
since the death OF those first imported, all the
pure blood Merinos of our country have been
The descendants of the five flocks imported.
after being mixed together. As 10 the Hum
phrey's flock, and Goudalope flock, all dis
tinct and certain traces of them disappeared
some yeals since. With, believe, a more
accurate practical knowledge in relation to
the Merino sheep than any man now living,
in this country, or that ever did live in 1t.
aver that any man who states that he has
got Paular Sheep is asserting what know
to be not true. Whether he has deceived
himself or is attempting TO deceive others, |
must leave the party to decide.
have been informed too, that several who,
but few years since, stated TO me that their
sheep were all mixed with Saxony, have. by
The magical process Of putting, converted
their docks into Merinos but this is much
more innocent deception than that Of pdlmins
off coarse wooded sheep, because they have
heavy feeces, for Merinos. These saxony
mixtures will be likely to continue the breed
OF fine wooded sheep in our country, whereas,
those coarse wooded sheep will degrade our
wool to the standard of the British Rye
lands, and other ordinary short wooded
breeds of Europe; which must ultimately
prove great injury to the wool-growing
business of our country.
WIN. JARVIS.