Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-07-29

Sheep Speculatlons hiking Of Breeds.

that the pockets ef those among Us wish
ing 10 procure good f9cls Of sheep, were
in constant danger Of depletion from the
operation of sheer humbue Tie west
ern farmer wants some fine sheep He
naturally turns to the east for them lie
knows but little about it particularly aud
positively, but bis eye catches the adTer-
tisement in the papers Of sheep sAearing
20 or "a pounds Of wool, and costing
500 to $500 each. He may as we'll get
the best while he IS about It, and 50 mort
cages his farm for half dozen sheep
which will surely disappoint him. We
hope this article viii help 70 open the
eyes of such among Us. The author is a
''sheep man" and knows Of what he writes
"When merino wool was worth two dol
lars the pound III the United States and
there were but few merino sheep in these
States, and little prospect Of obtaining
more, truly there wasa substantial reason
why Inerino rams might b. worth ta08s-
and or fifteen hundred dollars cash Bat
in these times. such wool commands only
a very moderate price and merinn sheep
are very abundant, there seems to be no
good reason for such prices extra as are
now affixed to such animals and that
great share of those who purchase al these
rates must eventually be disappointed
Sheep spectators ul3e tlud aud cater
most admirably to the preiudIces Of the
great mass of wocl-growers. These pref
udices are strongly IN favor OF Big Stecp.
uerY heaUy feeccs and zrbite sheep; all Of
which circumstances are not consistent
with producing fine wool, of first rate quail
itY, upon any other breed Of meruos. cz-
cept rather white wool upon the Escurl-
al or Saxon breed which have less yoIk
than most other meriuos.
First, as to ti4 sheep the natural size
of meriuo sheep IN Spain Is. for first rate
rams of the largest breeds about 100 lbs
aud that It the ewes about 20 lbs When
ever such breeds are. By extra feed and
care, raised to a large size, adding fifty
or a hundred per cent, or even more to
their size. their wool becomes of an iufe-
rior quality; and as soon as this extra
care and feed are withheld from their
progeny, this progeny viii be gradually
diminished to the natural size and quality
of that breed This lawof nature is iuva-
riable and therefore those waO purchase
large pure bred mcriu0s. from eastern
dealers or others must expect that unless
they are willing to pet these sheep. and
take the same care in the selection Of
breeders together with feed ana attention
in every respect. as tacv have heretofore
secured their progeny VIII oa.y Be osal-
nary sized merinos The only mode Of
having permanently large mernas Is. to
cross them with coarse wooded Sheep -
These we now have. Of every quality, suit
able either for producing clata..5 Wool.
ar tOOp fine. silk .grfs ffHff r-.al
Second, as to heavy He-cls There
are two modes of producing heavy deacas .
one is by selectut tine largest sized and
thickest wooded meriags. and e. ling them
very carefully and plent.falIv throughout
the whole year, So as to keep them at al
times in first rate condition, Together Will
good shelter The other mode Is 6y 81
lecting rams and ewes for breeders which
have an excessive quantity of ya.E Egc
instance, it is mentioned IN tile Albany
Cultivator, that wool buyer purchased
a Paular rams fleece from o wool grower.
which after having been well washed
upon the animal, weighed ten pounds.
The wool buyer caused this fleece to be
well secured in warm water, and it then
weighed four pounds Ali that can be
expected from the largest sized purc-bred
merinos of the natural size in the climate
of Ohio, is about 81 to ( pounds from
ewes, and to pounds from rams. well
washed upon their backs-proyided they
have good food, condiments, and suitable
shelter. 1t is a very good flock which
will come up to this standard The eli
mate of the Eastern States IS very brac-
ing and healthy tor sheep and tile same
sheep will undoubtedly produce q less