Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-09-20
MERINO SHEEP.

In our visit to Windsor county in
June, we had some talk with A. E. Per-
kins, Esq, of Pomfret, in relation to
the sheep industry in that portion of the
State. Mr.. Perkins has been engaged
in breeding what is known as the At
wood Improved Merino sheep, for many
years, and has been quite successful in
the business. At the time of the down
fall in prices of fine wool sheep. several
years since, when entire focks of val
liable animals were disposed of for a
very small sum and men quit the busi-
ness in disgust, he, with others possess
ing more faith in the enterprise, kept
along quietly in their occupation. i'm
proving their focks as opportunity offered
and patiently waited for the good time
coming, which he believed would sooner
or later arrive. That they were wise in
their determination time and results
nave proved TO De true.
Although, perhaps, the fabulous prices
of twenty-five years ago are not now
realized, and had not ought to be to
keep the business in a healthy condition,
still there is no reason to complain on
this account, and farmers possessing a
flock of these weIl-bred sheep, are in the
way of receiving very satisfactory
reward for their labor. Mr.. Perkins
thinks there are more Merino sheep kept
in Windsor county than any other por-
tion of the State of equal extent He
gave the names of several breeders, as
A. E. Fuller. Crosby Miller, J. Hazen,
John Henry, Eben Bridge, etc. He and
his son keep some 800, and record in
the United States, Vermont, and Atwood
Merino sheep registers. The average
clip of unwashed wool from his flock for
a series of years is eleven pounds, which
is generally consigned to commission
houses. 1t was at time of visit, quoted
at from % to 25 cents per pound. Ewes
have lambs at from two to three years
old, and the proportion of lambs to ewes
is as seven to eight. Feeds we'll and
takes good care, and finds it pays.
Raises some roots and feeds some grain.
Has been quite successful as prize
taker at fairs
The greatest return from this industry
is from the furnishing of breeding stock,
for which there is good demand. Dur
ing the past year there have been 20
carloads shipped out of the State, going
to Maine, Ohio, Colorado, Dakota, Texas
and South America. If this demand
continues, good prices will be realized
for approved breeding stock.
In passing through that part of the
town of Pomfret devoted to sheep hus-
bandry, We were impressed with the
idea that the farms were not appearing
in as high a state of fertility as where
cattle was the principal stock kept; the
pastures seemed to be more closely fed.
and the meadows not as productive.
Concerning this matter, however, we are
not very we'll posted.
We noticed upon the farm of Mr..
Perkins plantation of sugar maple
trees that had been set for several years,
upon what appeared to be dry, gravelly
soil, or poor quality. They were most
ly alive and doing we'll. These were
set, and others upon different farms. for
the purpose of competing for prize
offered by the grange which was then in
existence, probably for the purpose Of
ascertaining whether the maple would
thrive we'll enough from transplanting
to render it advisable to devote land
that might be desirable to a growth of
wood for timber or sugar making pur-
poses. From what we saw there is no
doubt but that sugar orchard might
be produced in this way in suitable
location and at no great expense, as. the
ground could be occupied as pusture
during the growth of the trees if not
allowed to be injured by stock.-,S.
Albans Messenger.