Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-05
horticultural,
DR.. BovatOn oa sheep Has6dads'y
Am yesr England.

AGRICULTURAL editor of the New Hamp
shire Farmer, gave an interesting lecture
upon this subject.
As the manufacturer lays hold of one
of the forces of nature and by his skill
adapts il to his requirements, SO should
the farmer. in the application of other
forces to vegetation and domestic ami
mails, achieve results equally certain.
But if we that use the machinery OF the
OK, horse and other animals, hold to the
practice of breeding as u was uohe
Twenty-Five wears ago, we shall finally
drift down stream There are, said he,
certain great principles which regulate
this branch of agriculture, whether IN
raising horses, cattle, or sheep, and he
passed on to consider sheep rs meat
producing animal. The power of aSsim-
ilation-of converting food into meat, Is
greater in the sheep than in the COW
Other things being equal. there IS more
profit in feeding sheep than cattle The
fact that sheep will produce more nutri-
ment than cattle, has been established
bevond doubt Their meat is more
healthful than beef. and loses less in
cooking. This is small matter, but it
lies at the foundation of stock breeding,
and should be allowed in deciding what
class of animals we win raise. All the
meat producing parts of the sheep are
found TO increase in a greater ratio than
in the COW, while the ofIal portion of the
sheep is proportionately less than that OF
the cow
Touching the question of wool, the
speaker said there was a depression in
the market at the present time hut it can
not ALWAYS remain 50. Like every de-
partment of trade it had lis ups and
downs, and we might be sure there was
a wave ahead As well a. one behind. We
might safely conclude that during u pc
riod of twenty-five or fifty years the
price OF wool would average fifty cents
per pound Great fluctuations were To
be expected in the price of wool, since
il was the victim Of tluctuation in the
tariff. and this would be the case until
men We're sent 70 Congress who would
lcgislatc for the producers of the country
instead OF the spectators and partizans.
New Englauuyrs, by reason OF the cii-
L.. ~
but It's a fact that the increase of oar
population is followed by \ ProportionSte
diminutiou of animal food. and We arr
compelled 10 stretch our arms further
and further to the West And - this
source of supply is reccding as fast -
population is centralized. and The cost OF
transportation Is Increased, sheep raising
becomes aquestion OF vital Importance 10
the farmers Of New England. Every
one can't raise horses. hut every one who
has an acre Of land can keep these quiet
and Unotfcndiug animals. and Just in pro
portion 10 the attention bestowed upon
them will be the rccompeuse. Sheep
take the same place on the farm that the
rag mills DO in manufacturing. 10y using
up the coarse and east off articles Of
FORAGE and converting them into articles
Of commerce.
Having decided to keep sheep, what
kind shall We rai>e2 lie would not pu,
Merinos on our sal, marsh. or CotSWold>
on our rocky hills. Soil. climate, and
the demands Of the market, must DC con
suited in the selection Of breed. An
intelligent comprehension of them viii
enable every one 10 succeed Any kind
Of sheep. IL taken up and managed in
teligentv. viii render good returns
He did not know Of a man in New Eng
land who had made loss in sheep ral>-
inc. unless il was from changing his
flocks He advised every man 10 hold
on L. the sheep with which he had be
come familiar, and not DC led away by
the exaggerated reports of wonderful re
suits obtained from other breeds Con
siderable mischief has been produced IL
crossing larger varieties with smaller,
and totally different animals.
As long as people are clothed, there
viii be a demand for wool. II is true 60
scertain extent that sheep can be raised
cheaper in Texas than in New England
but il does not follow that sheep nus
bandry viii no, pay here. They cannot
raise. on the prairies of the West, such
fine sheep as We can in Vermont and
Maine We have in this State said DR..
Boyuton. facilities for raising the finest
horses and sheep in the country, and ii
or'y half Of what can be done with
these G-mA animals u linking their
Willingness and capacity with our intel
ligence. be accomplished, We shall be
amply repaid. BY applying the princi-
pies which are written on their organi-
cation. and watching the forces of ma
ture We can go forth to power in the an
imSl world
Following the lecture there was q
lengthy discussion, engaged in by DR..
Loring. Mr. Dixie, DR. Boynton, Gen.
Head and others.
DR. Loring believed if wool growing
in New England was 10 be made to pay,
it must be done with Merino sheep, be
cause they are particularly indigenous to
our soil. There was no doubt Vermont
had the best fine wooded sheep in the
,rcrlI oD1 Mr. Uatnu,,-l IL ..ozx.,