The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-03-24
Agrifultural.
The Sheep Mania.

For several years there has been d Srau-
ually increasing interest in sheep raising,
which seems now to have reached nearly
its height in a mania for paying most ex-
travagant prices for fine wool sheep OF dit
ferent breeds. The rise and course of this
mania-for such it now really amounts to
has been marked by much more COM
nonsense, practical views, than those
which prevailed when the delicate little
Saxony sheep sold for so much, and infns-
ed their next to worthless blood into most
of the best focks in the country. The
exquisite fneness of their wool had been
produced at the expense Of the constitution
of the breed, and the result of this extern
sive importation and dissemination of the
Saxons in this country was to degrade the
vigor Of our merino tlocks, reduce the
weight of our feeces, not increasing the
fineness in proportion, and on the whole
greatly to discourage the efforts making
for the improvement Of our fine wool
hocks. This taken in connection with the
uncertainty of our tariff laws, was Sufli-
Gent to bring the fine wool sheep into dis
credit
Now, however, it is very different. A
breed of very great excellence has been
virtually originated among us, and become
extensively disseminated. This breed OF
American merinoes we have before repeat
edly alluded to-combining as it does the
excellencies of the Spanish merino, with
larger size. better form. heavier fleece. 1t
is not remarkable that upon the increased
demand for wool, and the initiation Of prices
brought about by the war, the trade i'll
sheep should have received great impe-
tus. AT the same time almost, one of
our enterprising breeders obtained at a
Worlds Fair III Germany the highest
prices for some of these same sheep, thus
giving them a worldwide reputation
which brought to certain extent for
eign demand, in addition to greatly in
creasing the demand for the American
merinoes at home. We hear of sales O
: rams for $500, 1000, $500, and eve
and lambs in proportion, 1t is even re
ported that Mr.. Edwin Hammond Of Yer
mont, refused to take $4,000 for his ran
l "Golden drop"
Many people have taken to sheep rails
ing who were entirely ignorant of tn
business, and every animal which had tn
look Of a merlno and a greasy fleece ha
> had ready market. Ii Young man
with good farm, we'll adapted to Shecl
culture, with free capital Of $4,000 t,
| 5000, 900 to start business, and witha
having knowledge of farming, goo'
business education, and love for animals
; wishes to begin to breed sheep, with view
to establish flock, and making the breed
ing and Improvement OF sheep lift-btsi
ness, he can afford to pay very high price
t for his original stock, and for such ami
| mails as he deems necessary 20 improv,
his flock in any important points. oh
er>, who breed for the current profits les
than for ultimate reputation. cannot atior,
70 pay these high prices They will n2v
err Get their money back, except in tn
cases of some owners of extensive tiockS
7 upon which the influence of a few rams o
, good quality may be very great. In vie>
S of the fact that the use of wcll-brrl male
e is the surest method Of improving an
$ of our domestic animals. it is SAFE; to a.
l sumo that there will constantly be a dc
: mand for good rams at rcmunerativ
| prices. Sheep raising within easy rang
0 of good markets ought to have reifcrcnc
to them, and to the production of tleS
rather than wool. The price which IL
O coarser kinds of wool have brought til
= past season will impress this upon SHEEP
# breeders. So great has been the deman
J. for certain grades Of coarse woods til;
d they have brought higher prices tina
:. superior grades Of merino and other fiji
N woods, and have met with a much quick,
and more advantageous market I'll
,r price of sheep for slaughter has been higl
= keeping pace fully with the cost Of col
" and hay.-1ne'7can AW1cuhmM