Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-09-04
From the Brandon Gazette[
THE THOROUGHBRED SHEEP IN YER.
MONT
RUTLAND, W., July ID.

RUTLAND, VI, July ID.
MEssRs. EDITORS Il notice in your issue
of July 10, 1862, letter signed George Burts
Munlius, N. Y, treating on fine wool sheep
and weight of aeece-oso asking to hear from
others in similar way.
| am on a visit to Vermont in search of
thoroughbred sheep, looking for myself, in
stead of buying of eastern traders and specula-
tors that visit our section annually, and being
deceived, as I have been by them, and for the
last time l think, paying them large prices Gas
/ now fnd,) for grade sheep. l have just re-
turned from visit 10 the farm of N. T. Sprague
Jr., of Brandon, Vt. was kindly shown over
the farm by Col. H. II. Merritt the she, herd
and care-taker of the premises. And such
sheep! 1t would do any lover of fine stock
good to see them. One buck deserves special
notice. He was two years old April 81 1862
He sheared this season % lbs. 8 OF. of white,
handsome unwashed wool Il weighed the
fleece myself)-a perfect sheep in shape, with
a strong constitution. Also Is two year old
and IS yearling ewes that sheared 424.45 lbs
of wool, Qhe average is / As lbs. per head
without selecting out the best, as is many times
done, and giving to the public the weight Of
the fleece of blood sheep-a piece Of deception
oftimes practiced upon the reading community.
The above number of yearlings and two years
old, are all that were raised on said farm in
1860 and 1861. The flock of thorough bred
sheep on said farm is 1903. They sheared as
am informed by Col. Merritt, ,O36 3-l6 lbs Of
wool. The wool is white as l ever saw-ir
fact l think that any wool buyer would pro
nounce it handsome lot Of washed wool. Il
is long staple with white exc or oil, strong
fibre denoting strong constitution and good
breeding.
This flock was bred from the Atwood flock
of Connecticut. Mr.. Sprague informs me that
when he commenced breeding them they only
sheared ak lbs per head. He has almos,
doubled the weight of fleece. 1 say to sheep
breeders of the West, what has been done can
be done again. think that the West has the
brains, capital and climate to compete with
Vermont and her sheep breeders. Let us wake
up to this subject, and raise our own fine stock
instead of going to Vermont for it. We can
do it by buying their best instead of their
grade sheep, and in no other way. TO be sure
it costs more in the start, but it is cheaper in
the long run.
have visited many fine hocks in Vermont
and at some future time, with your consent
Messrs. Editors, will give your readers
brief sketch of my visit here--also short his
tory of sheep breeding, as practiced in Yer
mont.
The crops in the valley of Otter Creek are
looking well. The western towns of this State
bordering on lake ChOmplain, have suffered
severely with the drouth-grass not more thar
one-half the usual crop. Corn all through thu
State is quite backward
The war spirit in Vermont is above zero.
learn that she starts her first regiment unde
the new call for 100000 men tomorrow. /
this is true, she will be the first in the field un
der the last call, if am rightly posted.
In conclusion, would say to sheep breeder:
can you beat the above described flock, con6n
ing yourself to the white exc or OIL with lon
staple, desirable shape and strong constitution
If so, speak out. We go for improvements.
HENRY Brown, of Kalamazoo, Micf