The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-03-14
darituItural aa0 Dumtstit.
Sheep and Sheep Breeding.

and Sheep Breeding;
The Secretary announced that the first
snbiect for consideration was sheep and
sheen breeding What are the breed
or breeds OF sheep adapted 10 obtain
the most profitable results in this Slater
Mr.. W. j. Baxter offered the following
resolution.
RssOlred, That in the opinion Of this con
yentiOp. the Spanish MerinO sheep best an
aver the condition Ofthis first question.
Mr.. Baxter said he offered this resolution
for the purpose Of bringing before this con
ventiOn a distinct breed Of sheep, that If
any one considered another preferable 70
this, their peculiar qualities could be an
nOunced and discussed at this convention. /
A short debate followed between Messrs, 7
Button and tombstone upon the practical /
bility Of bringing such a resolution before /
the convention tor its adoption.
Mr.. Farmer wished 70 have discussion |
on the merits Of the various breeds before |
determining upon the best quality Of any
one 10 particular.
Mr. Baxter said that was the reason be
proposed this resolution. He hoped before
its adoption that it would bring out gen
eral discussion upon the points OF every
breed OF sheep raised in this State or best
adapted for that purpose.
Hon. Chas +. Stuart said his views on
this subject were presented last evening
Taking into consideration the condition OF
our soil and climate, and all other peculiar
tiles OF this State, the object being mainly
the production OF wool, he deemed the
Spanish MerinO the best adapted 20 the
condition or this State The manner OF
keeping sheep he considered was necessa
~ 10 the consideration Of this question.
The sheep should be fed in winter on grain,
straw, hay, corn and cOrn-stalks. Local.
" has also something 10 DO IN this matter
II u man is near 10 a large market where he
can procure manure for his land AMI sell
the products OF his farm al such market
the raising Of sheep for mutton was prefer
able and most profitable. For the growing
ofwool be considered the Spanish MerinO
the best breed, adapted 10 the condition OF
this State, and he was In favor OF the
adoption Of the resolution.
Mr.. Sanford Howard was glad that res
OtiOn had been offered in this matter. but
preferred "a modification Of il. He did not
believe the breed now under discussion was
the best for all parts Of the state There
are breeds OF sheep in England and Scot
land that are larger and better wool pro-
ducing than any in this country. He did
not see where the French MerinO possessed
any superiority over the Spanish MernO.
1utft AZ 0bDfl UlttQ5 VI A%AAnO oA|N'f
the SilesiAn, for instance, which are proved
TO be bea adapted for manufacturing pur-
poses, and trial Of this breed should be
made ia this State. He had known par
ties who have sold their washed wool OF
this variety for one dollar a pound and
others at 90 cents. II is also claimed that
this quality OF wool Is preferable to all
others for felting purposes. There is q
greater demand among manufacturers OF
the county for long wooded sheep and this
kind OF wool is also sought Tor in England.
II is only about twenty years since machln-
cry was introduced into England for the
manufacture Of alpaca goods These goods
were In great demand, and few since the
inventor OF this machinery produced i'm
prOvements by which the long wool is now
almost entirely used as a substitute for al
paca. The long-wOOled sheep are now
grown to n great extent in England. In
this country machinery has been IntrOduc-
ed for the manufacture OF long wool, and
an Eastern manufacture told him when he
was about coming 10 this State 10 encOur-
age the growth OF long wooded sheep.
There have also been manufacture re-
Gently establish in the Eastern States fOr
the manufacture Of deaIne5, and the wool
for this purpose is next in value 10 the
lOng-wOOled sheep. Mr. Howard then gave
some statistics As 10 the manufactures OF
long-wOol, from which it appeared that IN
five different establishments in New Eng
land Oyel seven millions of pound5 OF long
wool were manufactured during the past
year. This long wool IS not, however
best for all purposes, aud quality is de-
manded which prOcureS line, silken lus-
tire, and for this purpose it would be well
to cross the breed of some of the higher
grades OF the Spanish MerinO with some
lOng-wooled English sheep. He did not
therefore believe that the Spanish MerinO
was universally the best for the State. but
that the resolution should be so amended
as TO include the long-wO0ed sheep and
sheep adapted for the manufacture OF de
laine goods.
Mr. Green of Oakland, believed with Mr.
Howard that the resolution was too sweep
ing in its scope In Wayne and Oakland
counties it is found more profitable and
therefore preferable to raise mutton sheep
The nature Of the country in that locality
is also best adapted 10 the growth of this
variety Of sheep. For mutton. he cOnsid-
cred the SOuthdOwn the best adapted to
the peculiarties OF our climate.
Mr. NJ. l.. Raw. OF Concord, Jackson
county, has bred sheep in this State for II
years. He has always preferred the Span
ish Merino sheep, and considered none so
well adopted 10 this climate as that. They
are hardy. rugged. and capable of endur-
ing all the cold weather OF this section of
the country. They improve with proper
care and attention. and their fleece increas
es with their breeding.
Mr. Button had no experience in breed
ing any other kind than the Spanish Meri-
no. He believed that this breed vas the
best for this State from the fact thar It is
the hardest aud bes. adapted 10 stabl the
storms Of this climate He believed that
it was for the interest OF the farmer TO
grow that breed of sheep which produces
the longest wool and the largest fleece
With reference to the growing sheep for
mutton, il was q question with him wheth-
er the large kind OF sheep would be profit
able, from the fact that it required too
much fodder or grain to fatten them.
Mr.. Buckley Of Van Buren,, commenced
the raising OF sheep in 1858, and gave bis
experience with reference 20 MerinO sheep
and believed that with full blOoded Span
ish NerinO ram a flock OF excellent long
wooded sheep can be secured.
Mr. Hendricks, ofCereSco. gave his Views
ofthe French and Spanish. He was not
sheep breeder, but had mainly purchased
his breeding sheep from men in whom he
had great conf dence. aud among them had
purchased five from France. He believed
that we were much indebted 10 the intro
ductian OF the French MerinO Tor many OF
our nne iOcks, and said that among the
very best Spanish MerinO. there was mix
ture OF French MerinO blood. He believed
IN spite Of the assertion TO the contrary,
that the large, strong, rugged and hardy
Spanish NerIno sheep are those very quail
ties 10 the French MerinO
Mr.. Blakely, Of Vermont, took issue with
some OF the speakers with reference to the
cross OF coarse and tine woods, aud said the
wool from such sheep was unfit for the man
ufacture OF delaine goods He stated, in
reply 10 Mr.. Hendricks, that there was not
French Merino sheep in Vermont kept for
breeding purposes. The Spanish sheep is
oil itself very hardy and rugged, aud is well
adapted to cold climate He thought the
Dreeds ought not 10 be crossed. tor IL was
uncertain 4hat the result would be event
ually.s WiA reference 10 CLEANSING wool