Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-02-22
AGRICULTURAL.
For the Bellows Pals Times
Sheep Efusbundry.


So much attention is being given TO the
raising Of sheep and wool in Vermont, that
il becomes matter Of no small Importance,
so far as the profits of the farmer are con-
cerned, that we may have some accurate
knowledge Of the best breeds of sheep, and
also the most profitable grade of wool to
raise. As general rule, the heavier year
ly fleece obtained from each sheep, the great
err profits reward the farmer for his care ;
but in selecting and breeding with regard
to increasing the average weight Of fleece
from year to year, and this should be the
aim of all good husbandry, great care
should be taken that the fleece retains all
its original marketable qualities, or in other
words, the length and the thickness Of the
staple should be increased at the same time
that the natural oil is added to it. When
this is done, and it can be by skillful breed
ing, fleece weighing six pounds is as mar
ke,able and as profitable for the manufac-
tuner to work, as one weighing but four.
The day has gone by for any complaints
about the size of fleece, merely because
il is large one, for every one can see that
it makes no difference with the manufactur-
er, if he gets his six pounds OF Doot, wheth-
err it was clipped from one sheep or two.
If he gets his six pounds done up in a very
small compass, with large proportion of
grease, he may complain very justly of
having been bit, but that is aside from the
question we are considering, and constitutes
one OF the grades of wool, which ii is not
for The interest of the farmer to raise. In
the course of my observations among sheep
have noticed many nocks, which appear
to have been selected and bred with refer
once solely to increase the amount of Gil,
with little or no regard to the length or
thickness Of the staple, and in some flocks
this has been carried to so great an extent,
that not only has the constitution of the
sheep been nearly ruined, but the decrease
in the quantity of the wool has nearly bal
anced the weight added in OIL thus con-
vincing me that the true method Of improv-
ing our aoeks, is to pay as much attention
to increasing the quantity OF wool, as to the
amount Of oil. BY doing this the constitu-
ton of the flock may be preserved, and
even improved, while the profits of the
farmer will be greatly increased. | have
been led to this train of remark, by an ex-
animation Of the flock of Mr. Coleman 5.
Shedd of West Windsor, which combines
in great degree the points already men
toned, and shows what thorough and sys-
tematic course Of breeding, followed for a
series of years, will accomplish.
His flock is remarkable for strong and
vigorous constitutions, he scarcely ever los
ing sheep except by accident, and for the
length and thickness Of their feeces, and
though not quite SO oily as some other focks,
yet in the average weight of fleece, they
are equaled by not more than two or three
flocks in Windsor county. His flock num-
bers about one hundred and twenty-five
ewes, with few bucks, which are usually
sold as opportunity offers.
He has sheep in his flock which came
originally, or descended from the flock of
Stephen Atwood, of Connecticut, which are
considered as the purest blooded Of any in
the country. The first premiums were
awarded these sheep at the Black River
Valley Fair in 1860, and some Of them
have also been sold to wool-growers in Tex
as for breeding purposes. From an exam
ination Of this and other focks, for there
are many other good flocks in the same vi
cinity, have arrived at the conclusion
first, that the Atwood stock combines more
of the points required by the Vermont far
mer than any other breed Of sheep; second
that The points which those who desire to
be successful in sheep husbandry should
aim TO secure, are strong and robust con-
stitetion, with long, thick fleece, and fair
proportion OF oil, being careful TO have uni
ted with it fneness and evenness Of text
ure, which can be by careful attention.
These points combined will make sheep
raising the suresi, as il already is the lead
ing business, to winch our farmers can di-
rect their attention. OBSERVER.