The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-02-12
NO. 4S6.

cy as in the one Of which have just spo-
ken.
According TO the census tables, you had
in 1854, nearly Al 900 sheep in this coun-
ty, from which there was clipped little
less than an average "a lbs CT wool each.
In some Of the towns there was little
more, and in some little less than this
everage. In the town of Ltch6eld. for
example, the average was over three
pounds per head, while in Fayette it bare
ly reached two pounds, and in Wheatland
each head Of sheep produced two pounds
and halt.
1t is evident that in all these towns
sheep are raised as necessary part Of
farm stock. In the town Of Fayette there
was 4,049 head Of sheep is there any
good reason why they should not have
produced 1000 pounds more of wool than
they did. and thus added at least from
$1,000 TO $500 more 10 the wealth Of the
town? Even if they had done thus much,
the sheep Of Fayeae would only have
put them on a par wi those of Litch-
field and it cannot be admitted that the
latter have by any means reached the
maximum of production, especially If VIC
put any faith in accounts which occasion
ally reach US of single sheep yielding
clips, of twelve, fifteen, and even twenty
pounds weight as one seasons growth
Indeed, need not go outside of these
grounds to refer you to sheep breeders
who will tell you that every yearling and
eve in their flock, grew during the last
season from FIVE to seven pounds of the
choicest merino wool. For my own part
l believe that much OF this lightness of
fleece results from want Of proper atten-
ton during the winter months. when the
whole vital energy of the animal is needed
TO keep it alive. so that little strength car
be spared for the growth Of wool. An
other point to which the attention Of
sheep. growers should be directed is the
improvement of their flocks by the intro
duction of superior bucks. Of the neces-
sity Of this there can be no dispute. The
native stock as they are called, have by
want of care in breeding properly, run
out. Their progenitors seem to have been
of no particular race; they were brought
over by the first settlers, some from Eng
land, others from Holland. some from
France, but all apparently belonged to
common stock, differing, perhaps, little
in size or in the quality Of the fleece but
having been KEEP for q long series of years
without any attention being paid to their
improvement by the selection of cboioe
animals TO breed from, or by judicious
crossing they are now probably just as the
common sheep Of Great Britain were at
the time the first importa,ions took place,
The defects in the native sheep are Chat
there is apt to be great deal Of hair on
the limbs, the wool is course, uneven in its
staple. often shaggy, and the weight OF
fleece light. the carcass is not well made
up, the quarters being light, and the
whole body. raw boned. besides being
slow of growth, and even when Of full
size the weight does not render it valuable
orproftable. Many of the focks through
out this State are still unadulterated ma
tives, proving what reliable "know hoth7
ings "their proprietors are. To improve
such flocks at once is not always in the
power Of their possessor, but there are
few who cannot in a short time accomplish
an entire change by gradual infusion of
better blood, by crossing with the most
valuable breeds. In making this i'm
provcment, however, care must be taken
that you are constantly stepping forward,
not backward; be sure you breed from fn!
blood animals on one side, always. .yy,
There is another point also from which,
the sheep husbandry of this country may
be viewed, and that is locality, ,.and the
facilities which farmers here have of dis
posing of all their produce in the great
consuming market of the east. Weuld it
not be equally as profitable for,the farmer
TO turn bis attention to the raising of the
larger breeds of sheep and look to the
butcher for some Of his profits instead of
relying altogether upon the wool. It1is
notorious that the. mefinoes are. the poor
est of all mutton sheep. and that when the
wool is off their backs they are really
worth very little for market. This risl Q
considerable drawback on them as prof,
liable animal near a market which has, a
constant demand for the best meats;while
on the great prairies of the west, where
the wool is everything and the muttonlis,
of little value, it would be considered no
disadvantage whatever. . The English
have made persevering attempts during
the present century TO introduce the
merinocs by crossing them upon their
Aeshy breeds, but they have had to,give
it up, Those who werethe most success
ful in growing the merinoes found that
the profits obtained from the wool did not
compensate them for The inferior prices
their sheep brought when put, IN Compel
ton With the Soutdowns., the Leieesters.
the Coiswolds, the Cheyiots, and The Lin5
coins, all Of which, both in weight and
quality Of nesh far lexcelled the fne
wooled race. ] believe there are but two
large focks Of pure merinces now in Great
Britain. Our climate from its dryness is
much more Favorable to merino sheep tlian
that Of England. but The severity Of our
winters is such that no reasonable, caleula-
ting farmer ought 10 suppose they can
pass that season without projections end
the more skilfull that protection rs com
bmed with ventilation and 4 proper guam,
tity of fool, The sooner will his animals
exceed in their produce OF wool The eprcs-
cnt average Of Cd pounds per head, :,