Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-09
A Few Words to Farmers.
Mr.. Earle Having lately take

M. Earle Having lately taken
a trip through Franklin County, |
took note of a few agricultural items.
The land is more even than in this
county, yet sufficiently hilly to present
a variety in scenery and soil. The
northern and eastern sections are de-
voted to daTying. There are four
or live cheese factories that have been
In operation or are in the process of
erection. Yet many believe it as
profitable to continue private diaries.
One man stated his income from SO
cows to be $T2 each; so entirely is
this section devoted to dairying that
the value of a farm is estimated from
the number of COWS it will keep, and
a dairy of twenty-five cows, is quite
an ordinarynumber; 80 or 90 is quite
respectable, while a Mr.. Duclos. of
Sheldon, milks about 100. The an
pearance Of the cattle here is not
superior to those in Orleans county,
Real estate is higher here than farther
cast, being held at from $50 to 800
per acre, while some claim to have
found farms in Orleans county at from
SO to $50 per acre, Of equal fertility
and location. In towns near the lake,
many farms are almost entirely de
voted to sheep raising A. VI. Clark.
OF st. Adams, is reported to have two
thousand; other farms have from 100
to 800, but the fact most interesting
to farmers Is, that there are a few
reliable dealers in and breeders of the
thorough bred spanish Merino-the
sheep of all others, best adapted to
Vermont, and most likely to result to
the profit Of those who keep them
SO fully impressed are these men with
the value Of this class of sheep that
they have no desire to sell good ewes
of the Atwood and Hammond stock.
for less than from 500 to $1,000 each.
| visited the fIocks OF d. X. Holmes.
.of Georgia, Mr.. Holyokc. II. Lewis.
Lyman Hunt, and Mr.. Abbott. in Fair
fan These men and some others
give their attention to raising stock Of
the Humphrey importation Hammond
stock, although Mr. Hunt has a few of
the Paular sheep Of the Jarvis impor-
tatlon, which he will sell cheaper than
any other Spanish merinocs in this
section, and in good qualities (except
mgh prices are not cXcelled by any.
1t IS not my design to tell bio stories
OF heeces, or prices, as such things are
familiar TO Nermonters. but to urge
farmers 10 consider well whether it is
for their interest to breed this kind Of
sheep, As England excels the world
III improved breeds Of mutton sheen.
50 Vermont takes the lead in fine
WOODS, and it seems an established
tact that with the care usually bestow-
ed on large fiocIs no sheep do as well
as fine wooded sheep Therefore the
large tiocks that Craze upon the west
ern pralries, plains Of Texas. Califor
ma, South America and Australia. will
ultimately be fine wooded sheep. To
improve present focks and to com
mence new ones recourse must be had
to Spanish mcrinos. In breeding this
stock, Vermont has a reputation e.
tablished and it viii be maintained
Here buyers will come and now there
are not enough sheep to supply the
demand: ifthey were not held at fabg-
Ious high prices the state would b,
swept clean Of this stock.
1t seems high to pay one hundred
dollars for a eve sheep, but We must
have before we can sell. There i 4
senseless kind of talk in the months
of those who raise sheep that sell
from one to FIVE dollars each. that
manufacturers dislike wool from full /
bIoodS." The market reports seem
to tell differently, as they quote com
mon halt-blood and full-bIood at cradu-
ally ascending prices, and the positive
experience Of the men mentioned in
this article is that it is a desirable
and profitable wool to raise. and they
have had some 1900 lbs. manufactured
INTO cloth the past year. The nocks
have mentioned are worthy of the
attention of those who wish to bnv
straight Hammond sheep. | hope
soon to speak Of thorough breds in
our own county.
L. E. JAMESON.
lrasburgh, Feb. %, 1866.
ACCOUNTS OF DECEASED SOLDIERS.