The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-10
AGRICULTURAL.
REPORT ON SHEEP.

In awarding premiums on Sheep, the
| Committee of the Addison County Agricul-
Gral Society submitted the following re-
marks, which are well worth The attention of
woolgrowers:
Your Committee. aware of the great and
| increasing importance of the wool growing
| business in the United States, beg leave TO
submit lew brief remarks upon the subject
generally. Ii appears that between 1901 and
1911, Messrs. Livingston, Humphrey aud
Jarvis, foreseeing the great importance ot
rowing wool IN This country. imported from
France and Spain the first Spanish Merino
Sheep. From these and subsequent impor-
rations of the Spanish and Saxon Sheep BY
| other spirited gentlemen 1.-THE particulars of
which all wool ,rOwers are more or less ac-
quanted). crossed upon each other and upon
our native sheep, form al present the most
numerous breed of sheep in this county,
There are also the COtswold, Leicesrers,
Sou,h Down, and other varieties of the Eug-
fish sheep with their long coarse wool. well
adapted to particular locations and particular
purposes.
But your committee deem it Of the utmost
importance TO the wool growers Of Addison
County To ascertain by demonstration and
experiment the most profitable breed of sheep
fall things considered) yet introduced to the
notice Of the farmer. We are aware thai
some difference of opinion sill exists in re-
gard 10 The net profits of raising the different
grades of wool now grown in this county,
1t is some 90 years since the first introduc-
ton of Saxony sheep here, and in some parts
of the country the blood has become pretty
hl,,i Il A.
many that were foremost in Introducing the
Saxonies have long since divesred ;heir 1ocks
of every particle of Saxon blood. There are
Others we believe, that continue TO improve
The quality of their wool by crossing the Sax
ons upon the Merinos. But for few years
past the greater portion Of the wool growers
of Addison County have probably sought to
obtain and improve from the large and neavy
heeced Merinos. If the growing of fine
woods, which hut a few years since was tho'I
by our most jndiciOus men to be the best bu-
siness that farmers could enter into, should
so soon become abandoned for the heavier
fleeced merniO-it appears proper to your
committee that we should enquire into, and
investigate the cause of these fluctuations.
And TO US it appears very pcrceptible. The
long looked for, and much desired equality
relative costs Of growing, has not yet been
realized; and while the farmer who grows
Saxony wool has been struggling to establish
his reputation as grower of fine wool, the
owners of the heavy fleeced Merinos. have
been growing rich at his expense. And how,
it may be asked, is all this brought about ,
Ii lies not in the secret, but in the open man
agement Of buying up the different qualities
oi wool in the country. While it costs the
grower Of fine wool with heeces averaging
~ lbs, at least 40 cents. without leaving
him any profts-tLe growers of the heavy
Merlno is making fair profit at prices vary
ing from % to 30 cents. There is, in the
opinion Of your committee, difference of al
least ID cents in pound in the cost Of grow
ing Saxony and Merino wools while the pur-
chaser seldom makes difference of more
than from 3 TO 5. This to your committee
appears TO be the very plain and obvions rea-
son why so many of the growers of Saxony
and grade woods are changing their flocks for
the heavy jar and yolk heeced Merinos.
But there is another consideration Ihat pre-
Srnts itself TO the view uf your committee and
ought TO arrest the attention Of woo!-g growers
generally.
Although no equivalent distinction has YET
been made in the purchase of our woods. here |
is something new TO attract our attention.
Old England IS at this time making orders Oh !
rs TO some extent for wool. How long this |
may continue, or what effect il may have on
he woOl-grOwing interest your committee |
would not at this time pretend to determine
And then again il NAV be asked; why dc |
The English come 10 The United States TO bu,
wool The reason appears in The fact that
wool al this time Is cheaper here than il l.
N Europe. And if the English manciacIu
rer comes here for woods. il is moi the Coarse
,ut the fine woods that they will want. Your
committee therefore hope at least. that this
,utlet may prove sufficient to give new i'm
petus to the growing o. fine woods.
Another very important fact we would ask
leave briefly TO present for examinaiion.-
Within few years past the North Western
States of our Union have made rapid advan
ces in the growing of wool That they are
destined to becorle the producers of large
auanliiies of the article is not for a moment
70 be doubted; but the. quality of wool which
they will be most likely TO grow in that sec
lion of country is a question that most inter
ests the wool growers of Addison County
Should il not be found practicable for the
Western people after thorough and satisfac
tory trial 10 grow the middling and coarser
qualities, the injury that our wOOl-grOwIng
interest will receive from that quarter will not
De as great many al present are anricipa-
ing The fact that coarse woods can be
grown on the wide Prairies of the West for
ess money than the same qualities can he
grown in Vermont, is perhaps as undeniable ,
rs that bushel of wheat can be grown for
ess money there than here.
1t is The opinion OF your committee that {
his is matter worthy of the serious invest- 9
cation of every wool-grower in Addison Co.
And Shouldn't be found that the climate and (
ocality of that country is not as congenial TO n
he growth of fine wool as ours, we may then
consider with some prospect of expectation \
he field opened anew for the growing Of fine !,
vouls.
In conclusion. your committee would crave r
me moments further indulgence from the Il
Socety-aud without assuming greater lati- a
ude than is naturally due TO the station we d
lave been called to fill, would recommend 10 u
,ur brother wool growers that breed sheep o
hat Combines az far as Dossible the following 4