The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-20
The gutland daily Glohs
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1876.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Meeting at Brandon.
SECOND DAY-FORENOON

~ AOiiDNibb 10 a nulhildiJ VI AhJ uis-
cusson of DR.. Bonds paper on
BEE CULTURE.
Mr.. J. Hamilton spoke about barns.
The chair recalled him to the subject
Mr. SMITH move vote Of thanks to
DR.. Bond for his interesting paper on bee
keeping.
Mr.. II. l.. Leonard-Some think this
subject very dry. In order to draw out
DR.. Bond, beg he will take the stand and
let us ask him questions on the subject.
Dr. Bond Gin reply to questions - keep
less than twenty swarms. Beginners com
mence on too large a scale, and spread
their incXperlcncc over too large a space
Feeble stocks, learn, are out of order
keep the numbers concentrated. We have
in an adjoining town neghbor, who can
not work on farm, who has this year
made from his bees @2,000-more than
some Of us able-bodied men make on the
farm. My figures are, from three swarms
| in two years 800 pounds. This year took
200 pounds from one hive. The extractor
is recent German invention for taking
honey from the hive; it is simply cylinder
inside reel, with cross-arms wound with
wire cloth. We don't allow the bees to cap
the honey if we use the extractor. If they
are capped we cut the cap off with knife.
He read report of a gentleman in the
west who yearly made $4,000 worth Of
honey. He had just shipped the last two
car loads His daughter extracted seven
barrels in few days with her own hands,
using the extractor. The bees work again
at once, the combs being in the same cOndi-
ton as before. Time is of importance to
the bee in his season. | never disturb the
brood 0nnh Tho nf
paid for the cost of the extractor
in using it. The bees would have been idle.
Give them plenty to do, and they will not
swarm. Uses the Wheeler frame, which is
simple and easy of access, and used more
than any other in this country. The har-
vest is much in proportion to the amount of
room you give the bees to occupy. When
we shall have honey raisers of known relia-
biltty who put their brand on their pack
ages then there will be a more reliable mar
ket. | sold 100 pounds for $50 cash-pro-
duccd in six days. | have 40 stocks, but
am at a disadvantage, having no spring
range.
Prof Henry NJ. Seeley read letter from
a celebrated bee gro er, Mr.. c. G. Wait of
Georgia. Persons out of health find in
this profitable business. Last year there
was produced in the United States $780,
600 colonies of bees, worth six dollars
colony and of honey at 90 pounds per
colony, and at 20 cents per pound, $10,-
100000, besides $205, 900 for wax. There
was 100000 tons of honey for this last
years gathering.
DIR. hpd-They consider twelve cents a
good y, -tss in the west, where they give
this business attention, ten times more
sweet than the maple, and the bees extract
il for us.
p-~f Gaolr--Tinnny ond simnle ovrup
can be mixed to answer the purpose of
honey and extend the product.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The hall was about half filed and sew
eral ladies were present.
President Sprague called the meeting to
order and stated the subject to be
FINE SHEEP BREEDING IN AMERICA.
Mr.. L. II. Griswold said he could not
possibly do justice to the subject in the
twenty or thirty minutes allotted him. Two
hundred years ago Spain prohibited with
a punishment of death the expectation of
merino sheep. Germany and our own
country have now surpassed the mother
country in breeding sheep. From 1927 to
1880 the first Saxony sheep were imported
to America, but the breed has been lost in
this country. Sileasian sheep were first
introduced in 1870. In 1S4S the first French
merlno sheep were imported, but all i'm
ported breeds have Tow been absorbed in
the distinguishing name of the American
merino. The late consul William Jarvis in
$50 and 1911 imported the best Span
ish merinO sheep TO America Edwin
Hammond of Middlebury is entitled
to our gratitude. He commenced the
breeding of fine wool sheep twenty-five
years ago. 1t is proper to class our Meri-
nos as American Merinos, since we have
produced a superior kind. There is more
difference in the intrinsic value of sheep
than any other animal. The fleece of the
sheep, in the west, has in some instances
been increased in a few years from q to
pounds, the result of introducing few
Vermont sheep. The demand to-day is
greater than the supply. Have we any
iiocks OF unquestioned purity of blood? 1t
Is doubtful. The seeker after the best
sheep should get our compact Morgan
built, even thick fleeced sheep having
many folds or wrinkles about the neck or
flank. Two hundred years ago all lambs
not born with folds in the akin were killed
Oil in the fleece is peculiar to the Merino,
and there can be no good fine wool with
out it. The best have as high as As, 900
hairs to the square inch.
DISCUSSION.
Mr.. John II. Mead had made a slight
but successful attempt to breed Merino
sheep. Sheep breeding is a matter of vital
importance to Nermonters, and he was
glad to see the interest taken again in this
branch OF farming. Vermont is peculiar
ly adapted to produce sheep for exporta-
ton. Climbing our hills develops the sheep
and improves their forms. Many obtain
good class of sheep with folds and good
cap. cut square, wider between the legs,
strong on the quarters. Let us show them
at the centennial as they were shown at the
Hamburg xposition-successful
Mr.. Griswold-A Vermont sheep kept
exactly one year in Ohio clipped between
six and seven pounds of cleanseed wool.
Col. Hamilton Have never known
man in the west who pinned his faith to the
little woolly merino but that got rich.
Col. Mead said that our heavy Vermont
wool is no longer wanted. For merely
wool purposes, sheep will not pay.
Hon. A. II. Smith thought oil and lamp
black had injured the sale of wool.
j. F. McColum said sheep to-day have
more wool and less oil than twenty years
ago. My sheep pay not for the wool
alone, but the wool with the increase to-
gether.
Col. II. II. Merritt--There is no stock