Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-11-25

of free pastures become stocked with sheep.
How soon will it be before we shall begin
to. feel the presume of the competition? We
know of no obstacle to the immediate begin
ming of such an enterprise; indeed it is al
ready begun, and nothing stands in the way
of its rapid increase by annual doubling, save
the danger of Indian raids. But much of
this pastoral country is already safe from
them and the firm and practical manner in
which the Government is taking hold Of the
Indian question. compelling the wild tribes
to settle permanently upon reservations, will
furnish additional territory quite as fast rs it
can be occupied. So we may look forward
to seeing Plains wool coming to market in
abundance within the next five or six years.
What kind of wool will these great pastures
yield? Undoubtedly the great bulk of it must
necessarily be short and fine wool Mcrinos
and merino-grades are the only sheep that
can be advantageously kept and managed on
so large scale. And this WILL for some
time, if not permanently, offer good market
for breeders of our improved Vermont Meri-
nos. 1t will probably never pay the great
tlock-masters of that region to devote the
necessary care and attention to the breeding
of first class stock. They will prefer to buy
their bucks, and Vermont will be their best
market for that purpose. for sheep breed
ing has become science, well understood
by many of our skillful and experienced men.
1t is true that we may find rivals in this bus
mess among the breeders OF Ohio, Michigan
and other north-central states, but we have
the start of them, and if we are sufficiently
wide awake we may retain it.
But it seems to us that the great bulk of
our farmers. those without the necessary ex-
perience, skill, taste or capital required to
lead in breeding choice stock, will find their
greatest profit from sheep of the mutton
breeds. Our large cities are growing larger
and more numerous every year, and they
must be fed. In all of them the number of
people who demand the very choicest and
best meats is rapidly increasing. They can
only be supplied with such choice meat from
farms near ut hand, for choice meat is not
found in the carcasses of sheep or cattle that
have been driven or transported over long
distances. 1t is true that by the use of re-
frigerator cars dressed meats of prime quail
ty may be brought from the west, but enough
drawbacks will always attend that method
of doing the business to leave strong per-
centage in our favor. And our mountain
grasses, which give our butter such preemi-
nence, will also contribute II flavor to our
mutton that will count strongly IN the price
over anything that can be produced from
lowland heritage.
If we have stated facts correctly and drawn
our conclusions rightly, it will be well for
our readers to reflect, and begin early to lay
the foundation of orr future sheep husbandry
in studying the different breeds of mutton
sheep, experimenting with them, and pre-
pairing for what the future will demand All
observation points to the necessity in New
England, ola rapid improvement in our ag-
riculturc rs the only alternative of great de-
preston and comparative extinction under
the pressure of western competition. Om
farmers must make up for infersr and moro
hardly titled land by i'm increase of knowl
! edge and skill in their business. With thai
= they need not fear, for we have IL permanent
-, advantage in our proximity to the great
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