Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-06
Spanish Merino Sheep of Yer
mont.

Vermont has the honor of having i'm
! ported to this country the first Spanish
Merino sheep, and it is said by those
who have travelled extensively that the
Merinoes Of Spain do not compare with
hose now owned in Vermont. In fact,
Vermont possesses the best fine wool
sheep in the world.
William Jarvis, a native of Boston,
received an appointment as Consul to
Lisbon, from Jefferson, and while there
in 1911, Napoleon invaded Portugal and
Spain, and some of the hocks were seiz-
ed by hin to feed bis army, while others
were sold TO defray the expenses Of the
war Previously not single sheep had
been allowed to leave Spain, the penal
ty of death having been established to
prevent it. Mr.. Jarvis, wishing to ben
eft his countrymen, purchased 10 bucks
at cost Of 5000 each. and shipped
them TO New York. He ordered his
agent to advertise them thoroughly and
sell them at auction. His request was
complied with, and the report of the
sale was sent to Mr. Jarvis. He opened
the letter from which be read that the
sheep had been .gsold for 500 eaeh.-
The letter was thrown down in a pas
sion, and his countrymen were consider
ed the most unappreciative people in
the world. He thought they certainly
might shave shown gratitude enough by
paying at least what the sheep had cost
him. The next day, having occasion to
refer to the letter, he found that he had
made a mistake Of one cipher in the
first reading. Instead Of the sheep hav-
ing sold for $l00 each, they bad brought
Sl000--a slight difference.
This induced him TO make other pur-
chases, aud during his stay at Lisbon he
shipped to this country $500 sheep, all
but 800 of which were soon sold at New
York, Boston, Portland, New Haven
and Philadelphia, at enormous prices
The 300 he had reserved were taken to
WethersfeId, VT, where 5000 acres of
land had been purchased for S20,000.-
On his return to the country Mr.. Jarvis
settled in Vermont, and continued the
rearing Of sheep, from which, together
with the profits made on those that he
had imported, he amassed fortune.
He died in 1853, at the age of ninety
years, and at that time was the richest
man in Vermont, his estate being valued
at $800,000. Eachlof his eight children
received from his estate $4,000. They
certainlysought to be devoted believers
in the animal with the golden hoof'-
Mr.. Jarvis once remarked that he was
indebted to Jefferson and Napoleon for
his fortune-to Jefferson for having ap-
pointed him Consul, and to Napoleon
for having invaded Spain,
While Vermont was the first to take
the lead ia this important branch of hus-
bandry, she still continues to hold the
reputation gained at the commencement
of the enterprise, and no other State has
better sheep or realizes larger profits
We believe there are few farmers in
tie State who keep focks of more than
1000 head-but the average of the larg-
er farmers will not exceed 500. The
average yield Of wool is about pounds,
but there are many instances where
from 10 to % pounds have been sheared
from single sheep. The average prices
of good Spanish Merino ewes, estima-
ting them by the flock, is from Sc to IS
per head. The very best for breeding
purposes are sold at much higher prices
Edwin Hammond-President Of the
Vermont State Agricultural Society
sold two year old buck to a California
sheep breeder, few years since, for one
thousand dollars. This is the highest
price that any have been sold for in the
State. 1t is not often that bucks sell for
$500-but the average price for me-
dium animals ranges from $25 to $3.50.
George Campbell, of Westminster, who
is one of the largest breeders in Yer
mont, owns buck that he will not sell
for &, 800, for the reason that its lambs
are of the best quality and always sell at !