The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-12-02
Farmers department.
Discussion on Sheep Husbandry.

DIR. Loring opened with the remark
that the breeding and feeding of sheep
is daily becoming Of more and more
importance to the farmers of New
England. The same general rules with
regard to breeding that were comment
ed upon at the previous discussion APP
ply to sheep as well as cattle, and the
only question remaining is, What kind
of sheep is the most valuable to the
New England farmer? DIR. Loring
then announced himself as an enthusi-
astic advocate OF fine wool sheep of
New England, and he believed that if
farmers would turn their attention
more to them it would be immensely
to their advantage. In some parts of
New England--in Rhode Island and
nnecticut--Cotswold and South
Downs may be raised to advantage;
but our climate and pasturage is such
that large heavy animals are raised at
disadvantage. But at the outset
the question comes up, Can we raise
meat and profit Dr. Loring didn't
believe we could, as we have to com
pete with the great beef and mutton
growing states of the West, where
stock can be fattened so easily that it
may almost be called spontaneous pro
duction. Mutton aside, the New Eng
land States can make more advance
ment hy the production of fine wool
sheep than in almost any other way;
and one of the wonderful resources of
New England might be the raising of
wool, and hundreds of acres which are
not one per cent. profit to their own
ers, might easily be made to yield ten
by sheep raising. But no New Eng
land farmer ever saw a flock of Cots
wolds kept three years without deterio-
rating, and South Downs are no bet
ter We cannot compete with the
mutton growing sheep of Europe, but
we have been there with our Merinoes
and whipped the world If the farm
ers of Maine, New Hampshire Yer
mont and Massachusetts would sell off
their poor cattle and devote their pas
lures to fine wool sheep, their agricul
tural wealth would be increased one
hundred per cent in two years. DIR.
Loring also defended Merino mutton,
claiming that in quality and richness
it is better than any other Large
quantities of Merino mutton are daily
set before New York epicures, who eat
it with much relish, supposing it to be
South Down lamb. Dr. Loring said
that he had battled for Merino sheep
in this State till he had raised Me-
rino party, and it was the only party
he did have. In concluding the speak
er extolled the dog law OF this State,
calling it the most thorough protection
to sheep husbandry that could be de-
vised
Lewis f. Allen, Of Black Rock, n
Y, said that after twenty-five or thirty
years experience he did not think that
pure Cotswolds or South Downs were
the most profitable sheep that could be
raised hereabouts. In England the
equalness Of the climate and many
other conditions make them thrive,
but here these conditions are wanting.
If he was going to raise sheep in New
England he would buy good but not
too expensive Merino ewes, and then
cross with South Down Buck, and
the result would be lambs Of the best
quality for either wool or mutton The
sheep fever which prevails so alarming
ly, will subside when the war is over,
and men who are making fortunes by
selling sheep to western greenhorns
for $50 to 81, 500 apiece, may be glad to
sell for cents to IS. These Vermont
ohSSp oiC are
to their high so-called perfection by
cultivation, forcing, dollhouse treat
ment. Mr.. Allen was sure mutton
could be raised to profit in New Eng
land and enough to supply the market
without drawing upon the West.
Prof Agassiz made some interest
ing remarks upon the origin of breeds
of sheep. On the islands Of the Med
iteranean may be found wild sheer
which is parent of the Merino; anc
as it is mountain animal the infer
ence may be drawn that the hills o
New England are well adapted to it
for in Switzerland they thrive, and tn,
French raise their best Merinoes among
the Pyrenees. The eastern sheep
the coarser wools-were probably de
rived from the sheep of Armenia.
T. S. Gold of West Cornwall, Ct.
said that South Downs as well as Me
rinos had been raised successfully fo,