Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-28

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sheep and their crosses, which are valuable
for wool for general clothing purposes, and
for their mutton.
Second, the Leicester, Cotswold and South
Down, the wool of which varieties is valuable
for cloths which require the wooI to be
combed. Their flesh is superior for mutton.
The Third class is the native sheep of
South America, Africa aud like countries
which are valuable chiefly for their wool for
carpets, etc.
shall con6ne myself chiefly to the first
class, or the Merino.
In 1866 the total estimated value of sheep
in Vermont was ss,00O,OO0; COWS and all
other cattle S15,O00,0OO; horses S8,651,-
000 The number of sheep in Vermont l.
377 ,296.
The average consumption Of wool per year
for each individual in the United States is
about six pounds Wool is substance that
is especially adapted for clothing the inhabi.
tants of the world iu almost all conditions and
climates. There is not any known substance
that can supercede it. 1t is said to combine
most Of the essential qualities of hair, silk,
fax and cotton. The most practical question
for us to consider is, can we of New England
afford to raise it. The average price of fine
wool in Boston per year for the past forty-six
years has been 81 cents per pound, for medi-
um 43, coarse 35 Fine wool has averaged
ID per cent. higher than medium, and medi-
um II per cent. higher than coarse What
farm production can show better record for
the same length of time. The fears of many
persons engaged in raising fine wool are that
the introduction Of fine wool sheep into loca-
tions where the cost of keeping is so much
less than it is here will reduce the price Of
wool so low that it will be Improbable to
raise it here. The future demand of fine
wool will have much to do las it has in the
past) towards governing its price. OF the
future demand there need not be any fears.
The introduction of sheep into Australia,
South Africa and South America is not in its
infancy. In lS43, Australia produced H.
100000 pounds of wool; South Africa over
100000 pounds. In lS43, fine wool sheep
were successfully introduced in South Amer
lea. Those people who are engaged in the
business in these supposed more favorable
locations have their troubles to contend with.
The disorders such as foot-rot and scab are
very common in those places, aud they make
sad havoc with their Aocks.
The climate has an important effect both
upon sheep and wool. Sheep naturally de-
sire cool bracing atmosphere, as is shown
by their climbing over the highest hills, and
being found in hot weather in the coolest
shades. The wool which grows in the hot,
dry climates is more harsh, dry and brittle,
and inferior to that which grows on the same
sheep in a more moist, temperate and cool
climate.
In California they shear their sheep twice
year. Their spring clip, which grows in
the winter months, brings in market from 5
to cents per pound more than that which
grows on the same sheep in the dry and sum
mer months. Nature provides covering
for its animals somewhat according to their
necessities, which is favorable for New Eng
land as a place to breed the Merino sheep to
perfection. We have the necessary sheep
soil. climate. and men who have had expert
ence in the business which will enable them
to avoid the errors of the past and improve
upon the present.
We will now consider some of the neces-
sary qualities of good sheep. The first
is the carcass or body, which should be of a
rOundisb, barrel form, with good depth, broad
between the shoulders, hips and eyes, a short,
big nose, a thick, soft ear, short, thick neck,
short straightish legs Of good sized bone.
The size Of carcass should be medium for this
breed, which size will give the greatest
amount Of wool for the same feed when COM
pared with animals of the same age and sex
of larger size. This is according to the ex-
berieDce Of those who have made careful in-
vestigations to ascertain the facts.
The next important quality to be consider
ed is their fleece, which should be the great
est combination Of quantity of wool with
length Of staple, thickness Of fleece, strength
and hneDess of fiber, eVenness of fleece over
the general surface OF the body, softness and
style OF wool. To judge correctly of the
qualities Of fleece requires experience, care
ful observation and study. The length OF
staple should not be less than inches of
twelve months growth, while some is 3 inches.
Fineuess Of fiber can be judged by its ap-
pearance to the eye, by its feeling when
touched and by its 6neness of crimp. You
cannot always Judge correctly of the thickness
of the fleece by the hand, feeling of its sur.
face. BY parting the fleece the amount Of
skin exposed to view somewhat indicates the
thickness Of fleece. The evenness of fleece is
important, as when fleece is all mixed with
different qualities of wool the whole fleece
goes for an inferior quality, Style Of wool
is judged by its crimp, the number of crimps
to an inch in length Of very ans wool is from
27 to 20. A reasonable amount Of yolk has
been believed in in all times and countries as
necessary to promote and protect the growth
Of strong, elastic fiber of wool BY stick
ing the top snds Of the fleece together it