The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-05-21
From the Western Agriculturist.
SHEEP.

| your readers much that is new. But it is
sometimes interesting to read over an old
thought or idea-it refreshes ones mind,
and seems almost as good as new-if it is
brought out in the right manner Wheth-
er we shall be able to do this, is perhaps
a question. If we succeed so far, as 10
suggest an idea to any one that will be of
any benefit to him, our object will be gain
ed.
We propose TO give your readers, few
facts and ideas, gathered from history and
the observation and experience of others,
interspersed with few ideas of our own;
and perhaps little theory, in regard to
the relative profit Of fine and coarse wooled
sheep.
In so doing, we are aware that we may
open a wide door for controversy, but that
is not our object.
1t cannot be expected that any one va.
riety of sheep will answer for all sections
Divine Providence has kindly ordered it
otherwise, and placed at our disposal, an.
imals adapted TO our various wants. 1t
would therefore be the height of folly, for
us to attempt to maintain, that any one
particular breed, was all that could be
made profitable in every place.
But we would address ourselves to those
farmers whose main object in keeping
sheep. is the WOOL they produce, and we
believe this is the object, with a majority
of the farmers in Ohio.
There may be some portions ofthe State,
near the larger towns where farmers can
make it profitable to fatten their sheep for
market, but as general thing, we think
this is not the case.
We are inclined to think that many Of
our farmers do not make their hocks profit
able for wool growing as they are often
managed. There is not care enough ta-
ken in the selection Of breeding stock
There are too many men among US, who
go in for the cheapest in every thing.
They appear to take it for granted that
in order to make money out Of anything it
must be purchased at low price. With
such, the idea Of paying ten or fifteen dol
lars for good buck, when they could get
one of the common sort for as many shill-
ings. would be regarded as so much thrown
away. They cannot see that the stock
from buck that shears eight or ten pounds
of wool, is worth any more than that from
one that shears but three or four pounds.
They cannot be made TO realize that they
will ever get their money back; this ap-
pears 10 be the sticking point. But we be-
leve that man had better give twenty
dollars for a buck that will shear ten
pounds of wool, worth forty cents per
pound, and use him one year, and then
give him away, then to have one of the
common sort furnished him gratis. The
extra amount of wool on the lambs, the
first year, would pay for the buck.
But there are some honorable exceptions
we trust good many! The farmers of
Ohio are waking up to their true interests,
and oil kinds Of stock are rapidly improv-
ing. Within the last two or three years,
good many full blood Merino sheep have
been brought into this State. besides some
that were not full bloody and though the
prices seemed exorbitant TO the pennywise,
there were some foolish enough to pur-
chase them, believing that at least they
could save themselves by the operation.
Where mans object in raising sheep,
is the wool they produce, (and as we said
before, this is the object with majority OF
the farmers of Ohio, he must look for fine
ness of fibre and weight of the fleece,
though we obtain very fine fibre, we shall
not make it profitable, for the reason that
there is not difference enough madein this
country, between the price of Saxony and
that ot Merino wool, to make up for the
difference in the, weight of the fleeces.
The most profitable sheep for the farmer
in Ohio, are those that produce the heavi-
est heeces of medium frmness, and such
are eminently the qualities Of the Merino.
They are hardy sheep, and will thrive in
any part of our State, the prejudices of
some TO the contrary Notwithstanding. 1t
is now about fifty years since the first me-
rinoes were imported into this country
The first was imported by Frenchman;
he started two pairs, but only buck reach
ed this country alive. Since then, there
have been numerous importations made
by different individuals. For more de-
tailed account OF which, would refer your
readers to Morrel's American Shepherd,
book which, by the way. every American
wool grower should posses.
Within the last few years, there have
been several importations made from
France, which are now attracting good
deal of attention. They are much larg-
er bodied sheep than the Spanish Merino,
and shear a much heavier fleece. In
1910, Mr.. Collins, Of Connecticut, import
ed, twenty ewes and two bucks, from the
Royal flock at Rambonilett, which were
much superior to anything that had ever
been brought to this country. yielding a
heavy fleece Of very fine soft fibre. We
have several hundred ewes, which are
cross of full blood Rambonilett bucks, with
Spanish ewes, which shear from four to
nine pounds of clean washed wool, sold
here at forty cents per pound. the average
being about five pounds per head. But