Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-03-24
Westminster Farmers Club.
What Grade Of Sheep and sohat Feeding
and Care ,oiH be tie most Profitable an
Sheep HusbandrY?

and Care wiH be the most Profitable an
Sheep Husbaadry?
Geo. Campbell, Esq, was present and
contributed very much to the interest Of
the meeting. His great experience and
success in sheep husbandry, with bis
world wide reputation as a breeder ofthe
most improved varieties, justly entitle his
opinion and judgment to great weight 10
all discussions upon this subject. lie
said that at the'late wool growers con-
vention at White River Junction it was
voted that the breed of sheep derived
from the Spanish Merino, kept, acclima-
ted and highly improved by breeders in
the State Of Vermont, should be here
after known and called by the name of
the "Improved American Merino," or
simply the american Merino." II e
believed that the "thorough bred Merino"
sheep were the most profitable class for
our sheep raisers. The laws Of demand
aud supply govern the matter Of profit
in any business, especially in this. He
thought the demand would increase for
many years TO come, beyond the posi-
bility Of supply. Not one-fourth part of
the towns Of this State have a full>blood-
ed merino sheep in them. The number
Of pure blood merino sheep in ;he State
| is much over-estimated. There a e
many hocks much improved in grade
in fact by judicious crossing and keeping
/ for the past c years, Vermont had
much 10 be proud Of in respect to her
sheep, but the demand for the pure blood
American Merino was great here j n
Vermont, and it would take long time
to get even that demand fully satisfied.
Then the other States Of the Union, the
great West and Southwest, were looking
to Vermont for a supply. Men came
from South America and Australia to
Vermont to get the best sheep. Form
erly the world looked entirely to Europe
for their supply, but it is not SO now
Hence the demand for our superior
sheep would continue for years.
Vermont is admirably adapted, has the
best advantages by soil and climate TO
perfect the form and fleece of sheep.
Nature helps US here with bouniiful
hand. Cold demands thicker n d
finer fleece, and Nature as kind mis-
tress assists 10 conjunction with the ju>
dicious efforts of the sheep husbandmau
ia its production. In a warm climate.
Nature throws off the fleece. The man>
ner of keeping does much to change the
fleece. AS in rich tract of ground,
each seed throws out many stalks, SO in
sheep well fed there is a surplus of uour-
ishment, and nature gives vent and great
ly improves the weight and quality of
the fibres of wool.
Mr.. Campbell stated that in the selec-
ton Of sheep he would give attention
first to the constitution of the animal
Nursing Of sheep with weak constitutions
was bard aud discouraging. Then h e
would look TO the largest amount Of good
wool with reasonable amount of OIL
He did not regard sheep whose feeces
were very oily equally tough with others.
He had met with sheep upon the OPP
posite side of the mountain lately, the
exceedingly oily state Of whose otherwise
valuable fleece bad rendered the sheep
so tender that its owner had to carry i'll
ut his house continually TO keep i'll
warm. Oily sheep did not produce the
most wool. The relative size, perfection
of form, amount of food demanded, and
other particulars we're explained in their
bearing upon the selection of valuable
sheep. In shelter good free circulation
of r is essential. Defence against
storm is more importDnt than ,carmh.
Mr.. Goodridge, a gentleman of great
experience in the purchasing and manu-
featuring OF woods, inquired: "Does Mr..
Campbell advise US to keep the thorough
bred Merino as sheep-selers or wool-sel- |
ers y He thought it might be imposs-
BILE for US TO become so noted as sheep
sellers as 10 be able TO sell at remunera-
tive prices to men from Ohio or other
States. These m are looking for
sheep to the man who conquered the !
world at the great Hamburg fair. II
men from Buenos Ayres Australia
came to Westminster to p ur h e,
though he might have the unsurpassed
pure-bred American Merino in his yard,
which he could sell at $75 or 500 per
head TO them, yet they would not deign
to look but would inquire the way 10 Mr..
Campbell, whittier when arrived If Mr..
Campbell asked I h e m $4,000 for