Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-09-15
MerinO Sheep.

In our visit to Windsor county in June
we had some talk with A. f. Perkins, Esq,
of Pomfret, in relation to the sheep indus
try in that portion of the state. Mr.. Per-
kins has been engaged in breeding what is
known as the Atwood Improved Merino
sheep for many years, and has been quite
successful in the business At the time of
the downfall in prices of fine wool sheep,
several years since, when entire 6ocks of
valuable animals were disposed of for u
very small sum. and men quit the bust
ness in disgust, he, with others possessing
more faith in the enterprise, kept along
quietly in their occupation, improving
their iocks 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 de
termination time and results have proved
to be true.
Although perhaps the fabulous prices of
twenty five years ago are not now reatized
and ought not to be to keep the business
in healthy condition, still there is no
reason to complain on this account, and
farmers having flock of these well bred
sheep are in the way of receiving very
satisfactory reward for their labors. Mr.
Perkins thinks there are more Merino
sheep kept in Windsor county than in any
other portion of the state of equal extent.
He gave the names of several breeders. AS
A. f. Fuller, Crosby Miller, j. Hazen.
John Henry, Eben Bridge, etc. He and
his son keep some three hundred, and
record in the United States, Vermont and
Merino sheep registers. The average clip
| ,,c, h;g Nnnl far
series of years is eleven pounds, which
is generally consigned TO commission
houses. Was, at time of visit quoted at
twenty-three to twenty-five cents per
pound. Ewes have lambs at from two to
three years of age, and the proportion OF
lambs to ewes is rs seven TO eight; feeds
WE'LL and takes good care, and finds il
PAYS raises some roots and feeds some
grain. Has been quite successful rs q
prize taker at fairs.
The greatest return from this industry
is from the furnishing of breeding stock
for other parts of the country, for which
there is good demand. During the past
year there have been twenty five carloads
shipped out Of the state, going to Maine
Ohio, Color 40, Dakota, Texas and South
America. If this demand continues, gooC
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 farmswere not appearing in as high
a state of fertility as where cattle were
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
well posted.
We noticed upon the farm of Mr.. Per-
kins plantation of sugar maple trees that
had been set for several years, upon what
appeared to be dry, gravelly soil of poor
quality. They were mostly alive and
doing well. These were set, and others
upon different farms, for the purpose of
competing for a prize offered by the
grange which was then in existence,
probably for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the maple would thrive well
enough from transplanting to render it
advisable to devote land that might be
desirable to growth of wood for timber
or sugar making purposes. From what
we saw there is no doubt but that a sugar
orchard might be produced in this way in
suitable location, and at no great ex-
pense, as the ground could be occupied as
pasture during the growth of the trees
if not allowed 10 be injured by stock
81. Adams Messenger.