Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-06-18

My father, born of family of cultvators
busted himself in his youth in raising she p
In l7aj, the queen Of spain made present to
the kiGg Of France of locl; of ewes and
bucks, selected from the very best mcrno blood
in the country. Ialfoi' this flock was seat to
Ramboulet, where it still exits. The other
half was codcd by the King to proprietor, NJ &.
de Chcnorer, wno placed them on his farm at
Crolssy, about four leagues from Paris. AT this
date my father was twenty seven years of age.
As soon as he heard of the arrival Of the flock.
he went to see them, and renewed his visits
yearly, to assure himself If our climate would
agree with this new breed and to learn their
produce OF wool and flesh, as compared with
the native breeds when he became cony accd
that tie cllnute agreed wi.n this new race, and
that tl.ey offered IL great advantage from the
quality Of wool obtained, as well rs for their
flesh, compared with the tlen existing breeds in
France. He purchased 1T the first sale o. the
produce of these sheep, which took place at
CrosSy III Is 10, one ram and eight ewes. The
ram wac four years Old, tll weighed l25 lbs
and car led - lbs. of VOL, and the ewes aver
aged lbs. lis pure, unwashed state, He
continued 10 buy yearly from two to four sheep,
until $50. In ISL, he bought 80 ewes and
, ram lambs. In 1918 he bought 81 ewes.--
At this date, the whole flock was sold at trois-
sy, at al average of from l2O to 300 francs
each.
The pasturagc at Crols5y was much better
than that at Ramboulllet, and the flock super
ior. THIS is why my fatIer made his acquiSi-
tons here in preference to those at Ramboutl-
let, In 1881, he bought buck of Ramboui-
let. Notwithstanding these two flocks were of
the same family, he obtained great advantage
bUn oil of f,f he, ,f
boulIet with his, being of the same lineal des-
cent, but Il complete separation having taken
place sl,lce l1S6 between the two tlocks. From
lo2l to 1920, he bought five bucks at Ram
bouIllet. At this epoch, my father ceded to
me his sntlre flock OF merlnos, wEiSh numbered
2O9 ewes FROM three to SIX years old l76 ewes
from ole to two years; and 90 yearing bucks.
In 1882 bought the 81 ewes submitted at the
public sale ut Itambouil!Ct Since then, have
bought several ewes and rams tC maintain the
renewal OF the blood CI my flock, at times ne
ccssary. In choosing reproducturS III animals
the best conormcd, bearing the greatest guam
tity Of ,he best quality of wool, was my guide,
and by this constant care and study have rea-
llzed from my best rau!1 twenty-four pounds E
and from my ewes eighteen pounds of fleece
wool.
The good direction giJen by my father to his
flock acquired him the greatest reputation all
throughout France. No person from the States
visited our flock previous to the llth of May,
1916. Then we had the pleasure of visit
from Mr.. John A. Talntor Of Hartford, to whom
sold two rams and seven ewes. since then
have continued each year to effect shipments
of rams and Il few ewes to Mr.. Talntor who
succeeded in making this breed prosper in
America, as it has in France. have also had
the satisfaction OF Wit frCm Mr.. Isaac de
! Forrest of New York, Mr. sanford of Orwell
! VcrnC"t, and Mr.. 5. w . Jewctt, of Middle
bury, Vermont, ! o tie latter, sold, in lSjl
- ewes and Is bucks. In 1852 | sold hu
/ 81 ewes, and to deliver in 1853, have sold
/ hun 90 ewes. also received a visit from Nlr
Parker, and Mr.. Howard of Campaign, OHIO
to whom could not sell any ewes this year ol
next, to their great regret
From the various ESSAYS made by my father
to improve the mcrlno breed, and those whlcI
| have continued to effect on the same prncl
Piles, we have arrived at the conclusion, that il
order to improve the breed, we must not allow
our ewes TO yean lambs I'LL three years old, anj
to use no bucks until they had arrived at lul
mltuuty. II was necessary to feed them upoi
, sound land, dry m preference to damp paatur
age, and to renew the lock every five or 81
? years. If you are longer IN renewing II, on