The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-14

r,lsing to that ago at $40 to Sl2 per yea,
Another Ohio Correspondent, says n goo
four years old horse brings from $40 t
$50, and mules ut two and three years ol
are worth Sl00 The expense Of driyin
them to the Atlantic market is about 81
a head. The cost Of raising horses I'll
ready for market, about SEQ; mules abou
$50.
A Pennsylvania correspondent writes
"Our horses are tolerably well bred animal
being crossed and re-crossed by the dif;ren
blooded stations that have made their ap
pe.rance among us from time to time 70
the last twenty years. When well matched
hey will command from $3.50 to 5000 a
pair. rhe rearing of god colt do no,
think will exceed $50 or SEQ, until thre,
year, old He will then conln'nd hun
drcd dollars and will pay his way. ii judi,
ciously managed, until b is ft for market.
From the mass OF testimony bef re US, we
are convinced that the judcious breeding o'
horses, care being taken to discriminate in
the breed and blood, is profitable branch
Of agriculture.
SuEEP.
The first sheep imported into New Meth
erland, ware brough, from Holland by the
Dutch East India Company" in 1925
But little progress was made in sheep rails
ing, on the Hudson, for many years. in con-
sequence Of the ravages Committed by dogs
and wolves. In 1913 there w,re not over
sixteen eep in the colony; in 1850 they
were 50 scarce that an animal hearing eve
was worth from So to $40.
Sheep were introduced into Massachu-
setts PRIOR to 1888. Mention is made OF
keeping them on the Islands in the harbor
to protect them FROM the Indians and wolves.
In 1862 the increase had been so great in
the vicinity of Boston, that Charlestown
numbered four hundred sheep alone. Sheep
were introduced int. Nantucket in 1860, at
the time Of its first settlement by the pro-
prietors. A prosperous business has ever
since been carried on by them. The annual
shecp-shearing is great holiday ON the
Islanl. The average number Of sheep sus-
tained on Nantucket is seven thousand
Before the revolution considerable quaint.
tics Of wool were est tortei to France.
Although the honor of first introducing
the meriuo sheep into the United States
from Spain in 1902, has generally been &C
credited to Hon. DAVID Humphrey, United
State minister to the court of Madrid, il
will appear from the following extract of u
letter from William Foster, dated Boston,
Nov. %, 1858, that they We're brought to
this country, nine years before.
"In April, 1898. returning from Cadiz,
where had been passing several years, ]
brought out an original painting By Murillo,
and three Merino sheep-two ewes and
ram. the export of which was at that time
strictly prohibited and att ndsd with much
difficulty and risk. We had long passage
seveuty-6ve days, and the sheep werc in a
dying condition. Fortunately, there was
IN board Frenchm IN, that had been with
Spanish shepards, who cured them with in
jections.
Being about TO leave this country for
France, soon after my arrival in Boston,
presented these sheep to Mr.. Andrew Cra-
gle, of Cambridge, who, not knowing their
value at that time, SIMPLY ate them, as he
told ne years after, when met him at an
auction buying merino ram 70: $1,000"
According to the ceusus Of lsl0, there
were, in the United States, 1871 ,3.5
sheep and in 1850, 2l,723, go, one year
bid and older The present number Of sheep
in the Union, exclusive Of lambs, may be
estimated at 2i ,OOO, 900. which at 80 each
would amount to S4S, 100 600.
From the condensed correspondence OF
the Patent 0ice, important Gcts and VAL
liable suggestions may I've gathered. In
Delaware IL is estimated that one acre OF
clover vii, keep Eve ewes AMI their lambs
A crJss Of CJtswold or N,w 0sfordshir,'
sheep, with our common Western she"p,
which are generally half or quarter hloId d
merino, add one hundred per cent both p
wool and carcass. and the wool commands
the same price as halt bloOded merino
have found. says the correspondent from
whom we are quoting, the average yield
from the progeny Of my imported sheep to
be for the bucks and whethers from fifteen
to Is pounds, to the asecc Of well-washed
wool.
samuel johnson, Of Waldo County, Me-,
writes, ''sheep in order to make tn IN most
profitable. should be winterel chiefly on
corn and beans. give each Of my sheer
about gill Of corn day. or three-ifths OF
a hu.hel during winter. This with tri-
ding amount of hay and straw will keel
them in excellent condition. The averag'
cos, Of keeping sheep in this way is about
81 per year and the net profits Is about 10,
per cen,um per annun. The average yielC
Of wool Is about four pounds to sheep
The price OF lambs Is about 80 when thre'
to four months old.
Levi Bartlett, Of Warner, n. H., says
"or sheep, we have a gOOdly number .
S.xon. Merino. and the old sort, with
medley Of all graies and qualities. Woo
growing and lamb raising have been goo
business for our farmers for 4 year or tyr
past"
In Vermont, the Spanish merinOs are III
hes, and most profitable. In large aock'
asecs wool. washed on the sheep, can b
traised for forty cents per pound. Ii is cai
Ia 10 R,.too market for about ST te