Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-11-28
Merits of Different Breeds of
Sheen


omu0n ON ihe mens ui different knls. [
Spout considerable time DO foadinr. CORES.
pondence, and travel, To become ACQUAINTED
with the best breeds in this country and in
Europe. My impressions concerning few
Of ih' Sc varieties may be Of service To 9TH
ers IN a similar position. The first which at,
rocicd my attention was the then recently
p imported.
French .Nerino.
This kind Of sheep had the dcsirnbloou,l
tics OF large size and heavy fleece bntthcre
IS ~ TINS country prejudice against Merlno
mutton, which, whether we'll founded or NOT.
makes u lmpotlo to breed them Tor mutton
sheep. Ihcro Is one other obvious obiec.
uon To Them. On opening their fleece il ap-
pears foil of fluid which IL in the foim of
small yelowish shining globules, except
near the surface, where It forms with dust.
&c, dark and bard crust, This fluid proves
10 be natural and constant execrction from
the skin OF the u mal. Such drain upon
The constitution Of any animal, would seem
unlavorabe To their rapid Increase. But this
eXcreton prove on analysis TO be still worse
than 1t appears, for it is composed largely of
animal fat, which Is the very substance we
wish 10 retain. Ar0lher circumstance il
that This eXcretion varies according IN the
condition Of the animal, so that he moro
highly they arc fed, the fasier does the fat
pass oil through the skin. My conclusion
was. that this sheep might be useful where
wool was the only object. but that it was not
desirable as mutton sheep.
The South Dozen.
[ This is beautiful aud very distinct virl.
ETY., and is very successfully grown in this
country. When well bred, their consutu.
ton is good, the fleece is of medium weight
and iineness, they rear fine lambs, and are
I very superior mutton. This breed h1s no
fault aud but one deficiency It does not
grow large enough to compete with the
Leicesicrs
This variety of sheep is with many ia.
yorlte. There are a few docks in this couu~
try under careful culture. which can scarce.
~ be surpassed. The elegance Of their an
atomical structure indicates a long course Of
pure breeding, and perhaps an over degree
oirchnemenL The system called in-and-in
breeding may be carried too far, and cannot
he safely practiced but by iudicious sclec-
tons by careful aud scientific breeders Pa.
uty may be preserved at the expense Of
weight OF fleece, and strength and vlgor of
constitution. These remarks are suggested
by the appearance Of be Leicester sheep 90
this country.
CoisroH.
have selected this breed Of sheep for my
own cultivation, as combining more dcsira.
Bile qualities as a mutton sheep. than any 9TH
er known variety. It's large size removes 1t .
from all competition except with the Lelces- /.
ter Compared with them the appearance of F.
the Cotswold indicates a more recent origin,
less refinement of anatomy, less delcacy of
style, equal beauty of form, less liability TO
disease, AMI that greater Vi. or of constjtu- /
ton given by the fresh blood Of q new and .
rising race, Some of rhe best of this breed .
Of sheep, are now known as New Oxiord-
shlres. ! am keeping both varieties, and have .
YET bad no reason TO regret my selection.
They are proiGc.-Ater two years of age .
they usually bring twins. The lambs be-
come fat, and are worth boo autumn five dol,
lars TO the butcher Selected for breed
ing The lambs sell at from ten to twenty-five
dollars each. A gentleman in Canada who
had fourteen of this class OF sheep, informed .
me that he one year raised from them TWEEN
iy-elght lambs, and sold them TO. seven hun.
dred dollars
Their toooi is profitable The wool of tins
sheep compared with the Meruo, is dry
clean, aud less soft. The staple Is very long. .
No other sheep produce SO heavy a fleece of .
pure wool. Some washed feeccs have weigh
ed as high az twenty pounds. A friend IN
Virginia informs me that he has sheared
from the same sheep, over thiry-seven lbs
Of clean washed wool in two consecutive
years. This wool soils at thirty cents per
pound. The hghtest heeces are from
bearing ewes, and these Will average seven
pounds each, so that there Is no kini of wool .
selling higher by the fleece
These sheep are hqrdy.--l have kept them .
there years, and have not had case Of DIS
ease among them. Their long heavy fleece
protects them from cold, and turns off the
storms.
thy ,V"', 90 '''..ty """"' "g'- nry may /
~. i''t~" Wv" F''''- .'''' 10 10 ? YOU ''"' - ~"
nave seen inein laueu WIN very llttie
md sold 10 the nutr nnr fDr pluNfnnu