Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-30

SHEEP HUSBANDRY.

l.. Tucker, ESP have noticed many
articles in your paper, headed Heavy
Fleeces-and Fine Sheep" As have
been wool grower for the last thirty years,
and have seldom if ever, in that time VIM
tered less than three Aundged, it seems not
imnkoper FOR me also, for once to speak on
this subject. l commenced early with half
blood mernos and in 1921, | selected
twenty ewes from lot of full blooded meri-
nos, in Watertown CT. About 1914, our
late Chief Justice, r. Skinner, purchased
lot Of full blooded merinos, from his native
country Ltchfeld, Ct, then called the Hum.
phrey sheep. In 1924, he purchased Sax
ony buck. The scab 90, into his flock, and
in his absence to the Southern States, by
neglect of good care, large number of his
flock of five hundred, died-and fortunately,
some would say, his Saxony buck among
the number. On his return in 1927, pur.
chased his entire flock of ewes, about one
hundred and fifty. l have bred from the full
blooded marino since then, and mostly from
bucks from Consul Jarvins' flock. l have
had three bucks and few ewes out of the
Shaker flo OK, Enfield, NH.
My manner Of improving my flock has
been the following:
| No observing wool.grower can have fail.
ed to notice that as great differences exist
among sheep as 10 the length, thickness, and
hneness of wool, as of the hair of the COW.
The frs, care of good dairy-man is to Sc
lect his cows best for milk, quality, and
quantity. Breed is second object. By
proper crossing of these selections, our best
breeds of cattle are produced. have had
ewes apparently out of the original stock
and at three years old, producing but three
pounds of WOO, and a miserable lamb anoih.
er of the same age, and in the same order,
shearing five and quarter pounds, and
raising good lamb. The fleece of the first
will be short, thin, and Of a rotten daddy
appearance. The other long, thick, and
OF fine, silky, lively appearance. This last
l breed from, as long as good keeping will
enable me 10 do. have now an eve is
years old, with likely lamb by her side
and another IA years old that has raised a
lamb, this year, with as much grain rs boil
would eat, which at months old, weighed
one hundred and nine pounds. From flock
of three hund-ai and iwenty, J. se,ec, an
nually, one hundred for breeding, in thu
spring, before sbeering, two years old, ant
upwards.
From this selection, mark twenty OIL
thirty of those that have thick, long fint
wool. free from gum or jar, or any appear
ance of coarse wool, or hair on the FAM
or tail. The female part Of the increase
ofthe selection, are preserved without THU
attention to marking the best ewes before
shearing, the hes, Of the flock will be dis
posed of after shearing. l give my one hun
dred ewes six quarts Of corn per day. My
lambs seldom have any grain. The remain
der of the flock have no grain.
All are housed in the winter, and have &C
cess to good water and salt, at all times.
have many ewes which, from old age, shea
igh. Aeeces. Yet my whole flock of owe
three hundred, yield four pound four ounce
per head. have no ten 10 thirteen pounc
| feeces. My heaviest buck Heeces we ighet
. eight and hslfpounds.
. There is but little known as TO the weigh
Of wool from the fleece. tried the cxper.
iment once upon two bucks. One weighed
,, over eight pounds and the other l6 ID lbs.
both in tho same order and washed alike
The larges,'feece weighed ,afierbelng cleans
ed, 2 pounds and the other four pounds
do moi believe a fine wooded sheep can b.
produced in Vermont that will in one yea
yield SIX pounds Of well ceansed wool.
hope your correspondents will send you tn
!, amount Of the fleeces well cleansed, and tn
price their wool now brings this year.
sold my last years clip the Slh of last March
and this years clip last month. The aver
:, age price of both clips is SO l-2 cents. Dur
ing the last seven years il is as follows
My clip of 1912 and '43 sold in 1888. "a, "a
sc, and 40 cents.
| fear not the West. The increase @
sheep, Zine sheep,) does not keep pace wit
the increase Of population. Fine wool yield
: batter prof, TO the farmer even at this time
than any other agricultural business. Thi
is the first time | have spoken. Therefor
. excuse my long yarn.
JOHN s. PETTIBoNE.
Manchester, Vt. Albany CultivatOr