Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-12-22
Report Of the Meeting of w cstminster FAR
mcr's Club, Dec. 18Th.

mcr's Nlub, Dccs SIM
NJ. W. Davis read very instructive paper
upon the breeding and care of horses, after
which Mr.. |. n. Farr opened the discussion up
on the topic. summer and winter care of sheep,
making the following points. There is profit
in early shearing. The wool is lost and wasted
in weight by exposure in running in the pas
ture before shearng. He sold the unwashed
early clip for 40 cents per pound, the washed
late clip for 65 cents per pound. From the
same number of sheep, selected as equally as
possible for the experiment, he got - cents per
head less for the wool of those early sheared
than those later SHARED, but the condition Of
the sheep was much better in the fall.
Mr. n. G. Pierce said upon this point, that
he selected 90 sheep and sheared early, i.e,,
upon the last of April, and got an average Of
SpouEds per head, sold for 10 cents per pound
From the same number equally good, selected
for the experiment, he got of washed wool on
the last Of June, after running in good pas
ture, an average of only pounds, sold at Go
cents per pound. Let the farmers reckon. He
believed the sheep sheared early were worth Il
dollar per head more this fall than those shear
el later. He believed sheep would lose 10
pound per head of unwashed wool for running
two months in pasture before shearing.
Mr.. n. Fisher said that in three weeks after
shearing the sheep would get mating of wool
which would keep out moisture and cold better
than the full fleece Sheep suffer less in every
respect by being sheored before being turned
out to pasture; would come up better in the
fall, while if any were lost the loss was of the
carcass only, not of the wool.
Mr.. Farr brought his sheep TO the barn ear
ly, say the LIST Of November. They would lie
in better order and winter better. They would
become poor by running later, This was the
general opinion of the club.
Mr.. Morse said, build shelter for sheep in
the pasture, they will 90 into it during storms
OF their own Accord and herd there nights.
Mr.. Pierce said, build it upon the highest
place in the pasture.
Mr.. II. G. Lane said build it wherever mos,
convenient, away from the winds, sheep would
use IT, This point was explained by reference
10 numerous experiments and calculations. 1t
was conterded by some that the price of um-
Der on the river would not warrant tha erection
of shelter except In back pastures where lum.
Der was cheaper.
Mr. a. Goodridge, an extensive dealer in
woods, to which this point was referred, stated,
that two scourings of wool make it harsher
rains make it harsher. One washing by the
owner of the sheep and another at the mill
makes harshness. The wool will not spin we'll
In the factory which he directed there were
made five grades. Some wool upon the shout
ders was the finest. The sides made the first
grades the skiItings and frills made lower
grades Wool was examined upon black
board that its qualities might be more easily
detected Harshness lowered the grade, for
merly to cents per pound would be the diff
ference. The war demand destroyed the differ.
ence, Bucks feeces were thrown down Q
grade.
Mr.. b, II. Phelps said, In relation TO winter
care of sheep; The fewer sheep in pen tn,
better, the larger crowd the smaller the stron,
the weak. Have first pen of lambs, secon,
of yearlings, third of wethers, fourth OF ewes
and fifth, sanitOry pen with better feed. Wa
ter at all times.
Mr.. Pierce and others spoke of the value Q
the value of clover hay for ewes before and al
ter dropping lambs. The secretion of mil
would be more abundant, more watery and bet
ter IN all qualities. Lambs would be all saved
The hrst crop Of clover was preferable. Fo
this feeding 800 per ton should be given fc
clover TO $40 for any other kind.
Discussion arose upon the relative value (
lambs dropped at different seasons of the yea
Lambs dropped in the fall and fed through II
winter upon clover and meal sold for hig
price in the spring as early lambs. Mr. Piert
was trying the experiment. Mr. Lane reporte
twenty lambs Of his flock, which were now Il
very best of hs sheep, dropped in the last
November and the LIST OF December Ft
through the winter, ewes and lambs, upon eli
yer hay.
Much argument was bad upon the feeding