Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-06-04

1870, ...............1SO,OO
1t will be- seen by the above table that we
had only about one-third as many sheep in
1870 as We had 30 years before. But, while
the number has been so greatly reduced,
there has been an improvement in quality
that nearly or quite offsets the loss. The
number of pounds of wool was reported at
only one.sixth less in 1870 than in 1910,
showing that one Vermont sheep was yield
ing about as much wool as was produced
from three, thirty years before. In 1870 the
average weight of the heeces of Vermont
sheep was II lbs. In the same year the av-
erage weight of feeces in all the States was
about 81 lbs. The average in Vermont was
five-sixths of a pound to a fleece greater than
the average for the United States. In 1850
the average yield of wool from each sheep in
the United States was only two pounds and
seven ounces. For the increased weight and
improved quality of heeces the country is
largely indebted to the sheep breeders of
Vermont 1t is well known that nearly all
the highest prizes for fine wool sheep at the
Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia were
awarded to tue Vermont merinos.
With the prospect of higher prices for
wool. for which the New England Farmer
gives the following substantial reasons, an
increase of the focks in a State so well adapt
ed to sheep husbandry may be expected
Every indication of ithe times and every
fact that can be presented for the cousidera-
ton Of farmers, shows that for the coming
years the sheep and wool industry of our
country is to assume far greater proportions
a., Il II # !,
mutton and wool nre to bee such rs will induce
greater interest in sheep husbandry than
for some years. There are several causes for
this some of which relate more closely to our
home affairs, others affecting the foreign as
pect of the Uatter, and therefore coming to
MS somewhat indirectly.
In England, during the past winter, the
"liver rot" disease quite unknown among
the hocks of the United States, has caused
the death of hundreds of thousands of sheep,
aud brought IA loss to the farmers which sew
eral years of the most careful breeding will
not enable them to recover from. In Turk
ey Persia, Russia, India, and throughout
the eastern nations generally, the prevalence
of war which has rendered it necessary for
vast numbers of sheep to be slaughtered,
has almost put stop to the production of
wool so that in English markets there is
really danger of wool famine, and prices
of all grades of wool have advanced to figures
quite unknown in the previous history of the
wool markets at this season of the year.
Moreover, the consumption of all grades of
cnnbing, delane and carpet woods. has, dur
ing the eight months last past, increased in
our own country fully forty per cent, while
England is demanding more of our mutton
than ever before in the history of our coun-
try all of which has given sheep husbandry
and wool production such an impetus as it
has not before had for years. 1t is, in fact,
revival of one of the greatest branches of
our national industry and one which is likely
to leave to it something of permauence, and
be productive of lasting advantage. We base
this opinion upon the following, among 9th
er facts: During the past year, the wool
manufacturers of the vicinity of Boston re-
quired for their wants -, 800, 600 pounds of
wool more than was used by them in 1878,
while the stock of domestic wool which they
had on hand on the first of January last,
was the smallest, with one exception, for the
past five years. and while it was also true
that the great West and the whole interior of
our country was never so completely cleared
of wool on the LIST of January, it was at
the beginning of this year. Since last No
yember, WOODEN goods have been selling as
fast rs they could be manufactured, a thing
which has not occurred previously at the
halllt otdSpA Va INC Athts AOA many toAo'
These and other facts will induce an increas-
cd attention to sheep husbandry, and when
the keeping of sheep comes to be made a
business for wool, mutton and manure, and
not for wool alone, it will then become a sta
hle and permanent branch of farming.
One great trouble has heretofore been,
that sheep farming in this country, in the
Eastern States especially, has been carried on
in a somewhat spasmodic fashion. Farmers
have kept sheep for few years, then with
all unfayorgble turn in prices, or losses on
account of bad seasons, have abandoned the
business for something else But We have
yet to hear of an instance where farmer
has stuck to sheep husbaudry rs a business
for period of ten or fifteen years, who has
not made money and kept his farm growing
better from such a course. There is another
important consideration, which, We have
repeatedly stated, gives to our country one
of its greatest advantages for this line of
farming, aud that is, the comparative free
dom our Aocks have from any depicting. ia
tai, contagious disease This is one of the
great advantages of our country rs n section
for sheep hnshAndry, AMI one which will
cause permanent Increase in the number of
sheep kept. in view of the great losses from
disease abroad and New England, more than
amy Other section, offers the greatest facil-
lties for tue great increase of this industry.