Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-02
fertilization, but from their own expert

and asked If there was not 2 remedy
Dr. Cutting replied that law could
regulate its sale, but our people prob lbly
liked the cheat or thev would have in
structed their members ofthe House n our
last session Of legislature to make some
law to protect them. If the people took
1t in hand and sent men to the legislature
that stool as pioneers rs Mr.. Dougles did,
there would be no trouble, and the WORTH
less superphosphates now sold here
because they could not sell elsewhere
would he stopped. He thought it very
desirable thing to do.
In reply TO a question about superphos-
pilates, he stated that he would not buy
hem but make it at one-half the price.
nnd then he could adulterate himself Thus
he would know what he had, and use "A
best; but he believed that potash was more
generally desired in Vermont and would
at one-eighth the cost do as much good rs
the Superphosphate; but every section
differs somewhat by different soil, and so
no man should use chemical extensively
until he had proved it by the plat system,
Adjourned to 2 PM.
At2P.M, Mr.. Lane of Cornwall. mem.
ber of the board, gave an address upon
sheep feeding and culture, in which he
ably discussed the feeding and breeding of
Merino sheep.
He was followed by J. H Mead of Rut-
land.
The great improvement have been
made in the Merino sheep of Vermont from
the early purchases made by the old flock
masters, most of whom have passed away,
or OFT OF the stage of active care and atten-
tion To their flocks. These importations
made from near the close of the eighteenth
century and little later, attracted the
attention Of the whole world at larre in.
terested in fine stock, fine wool and fine
fabrlcs manufactured from fine Merino
wool; neither have they ever been lost
sight ot for while the improvement was flst
going on here in Vermont, anil the fine
stock spreading fast here among their many
admirers, and before the breeders had
hardly bred any surplus stock to spare.
our western farmers came to examine the
animals which had attracted their attention,
and being apt, also admired their many
beautiful points, and with one hand thrust
in their pocket pleaded, saving Come.
let us divide, as seemeth good unto thee"
and they divided. (How often this has
been generously done?)
But onward with steady march the
Improvement has spread, till everybody
has almost ceased to express their wonder
and surprise at the great Advancement
made in the improvement Of the Merino in
its Vermont home; individual animals
being bred frequently which were a sur
prise to their owners, and being so far In
advance of anything previously known as
to surprise all, and before they were hard
ly aware of it the old masters had attained
with their sheep to point Of excellence
beyond their hopes-bevond their most
sanguine expectations.
And when from across the waters came
the news of our sheep carrying off the
highest honors, the nobler instincts in the
nature ofour great breeders caused their
life blood to How faster because of their
pride for their country, their state, and
their f)cks. and their hearts weled up
within them, until each man of them had
kind of a jubilee of his own.
Then came our great national rebellion,
when the demand for wool was so great
that wool sold at an enormous price, and
it did seem AS though men went mad,
crazy, blind after our Merinos in our little
state. Fortunes were made and lost in the
sheep business. and the imitation of prices
of Merno sheep reached point, which it
seemed after the close of the rebellion,
from which they fell and 1.-THE fall was
great thereof" and 80 great that it seemed
AS though they never could rise again The
country became flooded with clothin of
Ill kinds at fabulously low prices. because
Of the great quantity Of government cloth
ing, and wool went from one dollar AMI
over down to from 16 to 20 cents per lb.
The markets were gluttel with wool and
the country was heavily stocked with
sheep; and it has taken long years to bring
back to our country the peace and pros
peritv to all kinds of business which now
prevail,.
And all honor to those men. who, through
those trying years of depression had faith
IN these focks and bred them the best they
knew how, and came noblv to the front
and again carried off the palm of the great
world fair at Philadelphia, in 1876.
Hardly can men imagine the true tyne
of our early imported Merinos which
would hardly cleanse three pounds of
wool, and those of today cleansing rs
high as nine pounds three ounces, and an
Improvement in stvle of wool bv strong.
er crimp, and in ineness from 1-750 to
1-ll9S, proved to be even finer than Sax
ony wool by actual measurement
An II the imorOvem mt from 50 nncouth
looking figure as are the pictures of the
early Merinos to the present animal. with
their many fine points. bred and developed
by careful care and close attention for
more than half century, till they have
become thing of beauty and Joy for
ever.
Lord Somerville says in his writings
that heavy neck is good indication of
good stock animal among the Merino
sheep, and easily can it be remembered
but few years ago how few heavy neck
ed rams comparatively were bred and
now we have and are breeding many OF
| them.
am glad that it has beed my lot to live
to know some of our old flock masters,-
Hammond, Townsend, Sanford, Benedict.
and many others that might be mentioned.
BY thin | have been impressed with the
type OF noble men that they were and are,
men whose influence and power was not
confined to their flocks, but felt in influence
in their acquaintance, in their societies.
towns, counties, and state and country.
| true gentlemen are true good men, and
they are great men because they have been
good men. And verify their good works
do follow them"
In closing, LEI me say while am myself
enthusiastic IN my sheep breeding, I am
also enthusiastic for all and the men that
can breed the sheep that shall, when de-
veloped, with his fleece en- weigh 200 lbs.
shear over 80 lbs, and cleanse 10 lbs, and
do it honestly. fairly and squarely, will
reach standard which hope to see with
in ten years. Then we will raise the STAN
dard higher.
Breeders of Vermont. grapple with this
question Of the breeding of Merinos in its
widest phases. We now have good,
healthy, lively business; strive to keep 1t
so by honest toork. and close, hoping that
our success may be only what it should be
in 1888.
This was followed by general discus
sion.
FAST EATERs.-There are many glut-
tonous horses which swallow down their
food too fast. Some horses will dispose
Of four quarts Of oats at few mouthftlls
which of course are not masticated and con