The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-13
Sheep Husbandry In Addison County.

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We rcpublish the following letter
from the Bradford Opinion:
Having just returned from pleasant
visit of ten days among the breeders of
thoroughbred Merino sheep in Addison
County, to all breeders OF. thoroughbred
Mcrinos in Vermontl wish to say a
few words in honor of the men who
have been the cause of the marked i'm
provement of the excellence of the Me-
rino sheep within the past fifteen or
twenty years, by careful breeding and
superior judgment in tho selection of
their sheep. into sheep of to-day COM
bining heavy fleece of fine textures,
rigorous and healthy constitution, well
adapted to our Northern climate
many of the stock rams weighing from
$50 TO 175 pounds.
The interest OF late in breeding of
thoroughbred Merino sheep indicates
that the breeding of these sheep is to
continue for the next decade. And
what marked improvement to-day,
compared with times when breeders
knew not if ever they were to receive
ample remuneration for their persever-
ance in bringing an industry of SO
much benefit to the nation to such a
state of perfection. l visited Addison
County in 1871, when the flocks of
thoroughbreds (Atwood's) were almost
broken up. After examining several
focks, made purchase of 6 thorough
bred Atwood ewes OF w. II. Remele,
Middlebury, and one ram lamb of L..
Drew, Burlington. Mr.. Remele gave
me bill of sale stating that in 1862
and 1868 he sold ewes of that goodness
from $500 to $1,000 each. Said ewes
were served in the fall of 1871 and 1872,
by the Hammond Bulldog Ram.
have since made several purchases OF
direct descendants of straight Ham
mond ewes, and what O contrast in
prices. To-day the prices of straight
Atwood sheep arc as high or nearly 80
as at any time in the history of Merino
sheep.
During my recent visit Gin January,
1897 l saw several lots worthy of
special mention; among them were
those of l.. p. Clarke, j. j. Crane and
the two Burwells. Saw some very fine
samples of Merino sheep at George
Paine's. Saw as good a one year old
ram of the Paular blood as has been my
lot to see, for which he has refused
$1,000. AT Geo. Halls very nice lot
of the Atwood family of Merinos. His
stock ram Ben Wade, 3 years old,
weight 100; fleece 80 pounds. Here
made my first and only purchase of one
eve lamb, out of fine large Atwood
eve, sire Ben Wade. From there
proceeded to the Stickneys' and tC
Frank Moore's where saw the Cen
tennial ram and IA eve lambs fol
which he has refused $75 per head
Saw the flock of s. 5. Rockwell, one OF
the oldest breeders in the state. lie
has a large flock of good ewes. AT Il
j. Jones' saw three 2-year old ewes
which he asked $1,000 for. At Harry
Deans learned that he had sold his
entire flock and bought the entire stock
of Col. Stowell. AT this point L lef)
the beautiful Champlaiu valley for the
east side of the Green Mountains ant
called upon o. & T.. 5. Hall where
learned that they had sold their ran
lamb to parties in Pennsylvania for the
sum of $500. am sorry that he hai
left the state, as think he is the hes
ram lamb l ever saw. l have 2 eweI
in lamb by him.
We have a few focks of thorough
bred Atwood Merinos in Orange Coun
: ty. that can show as clean a record q
any in the state, being but one and TIVE
f removes from the late Hon. Edw
Hammond's. The flocks of o. n Il. s
Hall, Randolph, J. w. Stevens, Eas
Corinth, and j. ii. Peters, Bradford
are worthy of mention.
May the flocks be kept pure and un
mixed for the benefit of present ant
; coming generations.
j. w. STEVENS.
East Corinih, w., Feb. z, 1880.