Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-05-05

WooL GRowNe.-No interest in Vermont.
we think, can be made more lucrative and i'm
portant to the farmers of most of the coun les of
the state and especially the billy and no-ihern
counties, than the growing of the best Of wool
upon the backs of the best breed of sheen. 1t
has been demonstrated to a certainty, beyond
the reach OF peradventure," that our sell and
climate are quite as favorable, if not more flvora-
bic than any other state in the Union, for the
production of wool. The returns at the atent
Office abundantly show this. But the great
question, first to be decided is, what breed of
sheep, all things considered is the best, for so
important purpose? And how shall the ques
ton be determined and setted2 We have our
enterprisng and shrewd importers and dealers
in foreign sheep among the Jewetts. Bing hams.
and Campbells, of our own state, each siickler
for his own importations, as The best and the
reTy best, and not little of self interest 70 slim
ulate to advertising, certifying and putting: so
much So that with all the hight that has hitherto
been thrown upon the subject, the common far
mers are yet somewhat in doubt AMI dai kness
as to the real merits of each. Men who ris their
time and money TO introduce good sheep into the
country from abroad are entitled to credit for
their enterprise But after all it does seem TO us
that among the various breeds of foreign sheen
as the South Downs, Spanish Merinos, French
Merinos, Saxonies, &c. &c. the best breei for
Vermont rool grotrerS should be ascertain d, by
some thorough, impartial and satisfactory test.-
In April, 1852, Mr.. Gorham Cutting, of Shore
ham, made the following propositions
will put five ewes and one ram a.
galnst the like number of full or pure
blood French sheep, owned now by any
one man in the United States said
sheep to be shorn between the LIST and
10th days Of June next,-paced in the
care OF some disinteresled and respon-
slble man, and kept by him one full year,
and then shorn, having been well washed
at least seven days previous to shearing.
The ewes TO run in pasture together and
TO have no other feed but grass, and the
rams TO be treated the same. Said sheep
TO bc fed in winter as the parties NAV
agree an account to be kept of the
feed as TO quantity, the quality being the
same. The said sheep to be exhibited
at the Vermont State. and Addison Co.,
FAIRS, the ensuing season,-to be free
lrom any external application of oil,
paint, or other subsiance-ewes not 10
be over two years old this spring, and not
10 breed during trial. Deciding point,
quality and quantity of fleece or wool,
compared with weight of carcass and
food consumed during winter.
This proposition was accepted by Mr. Jewet,,
of Weybndge, with an alteration of the time,
and an increase of the forfeit This proposed
variation Of the programme" Mr.. Cutting o5iec.
ted to, and no one accepting the challenge, as il
was given, no duel was fought by the wool,
leys'-no test of excellence either in bone and
muscle or fibre was had. There never was
time when the wool-growing interest more W
gently required the best services of its friends
never time when the paramount interests Of
the farmers required the application of all their
energies of mind and effort, on the subject Of
sheep husbaudry, than the present. From the
last census returns II appears that in $50, New
I York had upwards of 100000 more than one
fourth OF all in the Union. Vermont then had
over, 100000. Now New York has only g.
/ $4,000, and Vermont at this moment, has p Oh
/ bly, less than $4,000! In most of the other
states, there has been similar falling Off in
numbers While this decrease in sheep has
been going on during the last ten years, the pop
ulaiion to be clothed has increased from ei gh-
teen to twenty -four millions. The mere annu-
al increase OF population requires the heeces OF
! l,000000 OF sheep. We now, as a nation, an
nualy consume, at least twice the amount of
wool we grow, thus paying tribute to other ma
tons to a fearful amount. for the wool upon our
backs, grown, and much of il manufactured a
broad, and paid for in the gold and silver, sent
out of the country to Gil other pockets than the
pockets of the farmers and wool growers Of this
independent "a Republic Bad. bad, policy to
buy of foreign nations l00,0O0,00O lbs. Of wool
(Sss 4fh Pags.)