The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-03

ers to the improvement OF their hocks
the wool of which had already begun tC
find ready market, at renunerating prl'
ces. The first importations of the Span
ish Merino, were made about the yea
1901. M. Delessert, French banker
started from Paris with four-of which
one only arrived in this country, the res
having died on the passage. In 1902, the
next year, Chancellor Livingston, willis
Minister to France, sent over four Me
rinoes of the Rambouillet flock. Shortly
after, Gen. Humphrey purchased 200
and sent them to this country. The ex-
celence of the Merinoes consists in the
unexampled ineness and telling property
of their wool. (having 240O serrations il
the space of an inch,) and in the luxu'
rance of the yolk, which enables them tc
support extremes of cold and wet, as well
as any other breed, and in the facility with
which they adapt themselves to every
change of climate, and yet thrive, and re-
tain, with common care, the ineness OF
their wool.
The term Merino is of Spanish origin,
and signifies from, or beyond sea. "
This and all other breeds now in this
country, were imported. None of them
were found here, OH the settlement of the
country. Previous to the importations
above referred TO, the sheep of this coun-
try we're coarse, meagre race. Their
improvement commenced on the arrival
of the Merinoes, introduced by Messrs.
Livingston & Humphrey. The embargo
of 1907, gave a new stimulus to this laud-
able enterprise. During the war with
Great Britain, which soon after followed,
the nation was thrown upon its industrial
means for the supplies of the staple nee
essaries of life, and wool culture received
such an impetus, and such, consequently,
was the competition for the possession of
the Merinoes, that individuals of the breed
sold for the enormous price Of from $500
to SI400 per head At the close of the
war, our Manufactures had TO compete
with the foreign loom, and hence this
state of things did not long remain. Still,
the cultivation and Improvement of Aocks
continued, until they have gradually spread
over all the Northern States. According
TO the census of 1910, the number of
sheep in the United States was fraction
less than 20, 600 600; and over one fourth
of this number were found in the State of
New York Vermont has upwards of
one and half millions, and many of her
ifccks are certainly not surpassed in quail
ity in any state in the Union. The in
creaslng demand for the products of this
branch of business. greatly enhances its
value For population of 100000
not less than I20, 900, 900 lbs. of wool are
required annually, and surely this is
moderate estimate, provided we were to
manufacture all our blankets, carpets,
rugs, &c. With the exception of some
very fine fabrics, the time is not far dis
tant when this will be done.
In the course of twenty years from this
time. our population will probably nuns
Der forty milions.-In forty years, allow
ing that our population doubles every
twenty-five years, we should number over
seventy millions A.; requiring over four
hundred million lbs. of wool, and requir>
inc over one hundred and twenty millions
of sheep, provided their yield was three
lbs. per head. This view of the subject,
without looking to a foreign market, holds
out strong inducements TO our young men,
TO engage in this very laudable and pleas
ant pursuit In Spain, the number of
shepherds who lead a migratory life, is
supposed to be not less than forty or fifty
thousand. They are singular race of
men, enthusiastically attached to their
profession, rarely quitting it even for a
more lucrative one, and rarely marry ing.
The number of dogs, kept for the pur-
pose of guarding the sheep, exceeds thirty
thousand
Before closing this article, we would
notice late importation of Spanish Me-
rinoes, now owned by Messrs. A. L., M.
and R. P. Bingham, Of Cornwall. The
breed have assumed the name of " Taint-
ers," so called from the name Of the i'm
porter. For size, symmetry of form, APP
parent strength of constitution, and weight
of fleece. they are decidedly superior to
any class of sheep we have ever seen.
Their weight of fleece II months growth
and river washed) varies from seven to
fourteen lbs, per head, and is beautifully
fine and soft. They find ready demand
and sale for the lambs at 800 each.
Cornwall, March oath, lS49-S. B. R.
PRESERVING BUDS AND GRAFTs.-The
mode suggested by Il. o Yeomans, of
WaIworth, N. Y, for preserving the scions
of frnif frpoc IN toOief ea,v duct bos rro,,