The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-01
AGRICULTURAL.
FARMERS IN THE STATE HOUSE.


The Legislative Agricultural Meeiius met
al the Capitol, Oct. 90. I846. Lieut. Gov
Sergeant was called 10 the chair.
The subject for discussion, Sheep HuSLandru
Mr.: Gregory, OF We, bridge being called
upon said, if he must be the frsr 10 remark
upon the subject, he would open the field wide
aud leave it for Others to fll:-he would divide
the different kinds Of sheep with which he was
acquainted into six classes, though he should
Not touch upon svery variety. LIST, Native
breed-2nd. Native crossed with Merino-3rd.
Native crossed with Saxony-4Ih.Sax
crossed with Merino-5h. Saxony, full blood.
Native breed, common sheep. Farmers
ought not 10 hIeed suCh sheep: while they
shear light fleece il is at the Same time
coarse one, neither profitable 10 the farmer nor
10 the manufacturer.
Native crossed with Merino. Tplrrably
good sheep,-the best cross that eau De made
with our common native sheep.
Native crossed with Saxony. Not good, il
should never he attempted.
SaxOny crossed with Merine. Good sheep,
il the eve be saxony, the buck should not be
of our largest clsss Of Merino. The difficulty
will be in rearing lambs, if the buck should
be of the larger class.
Saxony full blood. Too tender Il sheen for
Vermont, unless the breeder is willing to sub
rect himself to extra labor and expense in his
care Of them, and in providing good shelter &
protection in winter (Though any sncep
should have shelter in winter in Vermoni.)
The Saxony he would put into two classes.
The first, the long, white, open wool. free
from oil, light fleece. profitable for the manu-
facturer; yet the purchaser does not encOur.
age the raising such wool by the price he is
pleased TO pay. This wool is fine.
2ud Class about as fine as the other, not as
profitable to the manufacturer hut more SO TO
the iarmer-they are more hardy, better pro-
tectsd by heavier feeccs, the wool not as long
hut more compact, darker shade on the sur
face.
Merino. The first class which he would
notice is the gumny, rather short wool. com
pact, rather harsh TO the feeI-uneaven, fine on
the shoulder. but coarse on the fank-obiect-
ed TO this kind Of sheep; it cannot be washed
clean i'll the ordinary mode Of washing. IL
was a great mistake that farmers breed this
class of sheep. They have been induced to
do so from the fact that the purchaser has
made but little distinction in his purchases.
The farmers Of Vermont have aimed to secure
weight of fleece, regardless oil what il was
composed.
I'd, Another class, even, fine on the shOu-
der and flank, long open wool, not much oil.
no gum, not very heavy heeces, but profitable
ts the simultaneously wet through by
rain and sleet in winter-need good shelter.
Sd. Another rnedium class, equally az
fine as The last mentioned, nearly as fine as the
Saxony wool-thick, long staple, and oily and
dark surface, may he washed clean in the or
binary mode Of washing-shoud not be al
lowed to run long after washing. The best
kind Of sheep for the Vermont farmer while
it gives 10 the farmer a good fleece, it cannot
he objected TO by the manufacturer.-The
wool will command a price nearly equal to
The Saxouy.
Mr.. Conant of Brandon being calIed-uas
ready TO say, il he took any interest in fam
ing il was in sheep husbandry. He started
novice in The business, but soon found good
sheep. He could not recommend Saxony
sheep they needed protection by shelter. as
their wool afforded no shelter at all. The
class of sheep recommended last by Mr.. Gre
GoIy was the best.
Ii is the interest Of Vermont to raise fine
wool. and the Merino with fine wool and oily
Is the right kind.
The Rambeuillet have great uniformity in
Inc nneness, free from gum. and frmness of
"1o' winch protects them from the weather.
h''u' robust kind-may shear four pounds,
average.
ne si'uded TO another description. The
Hns''sn Long woor-they want high feed
cross oil this breed with the Merinos makes
good mutton. "'"
Mr. beh OF Walden. called said he rom.
menced with mixture of Sa1onv and Mer;-
no-procuTed fine bucks bu, could 70, ret
HOOK; heeces average IL pounds. Boz