Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-05
The MerinO Sheep Interest.

Mr.. Albert Chapman of Middlebury, Sec
retary of the Vermont Merino Sheep Breed
ers' Association, writes as follows on the
above subject to the Country Gentleman:
Perhaps n few items In relation to the Merino
sheep industry may be Of interest To you and your
readers IL IL certainly In a very hourishing con-
diton, and the outlook for the future IL very en-
couraging The demand for our Merpo sheep
has never been great. from wide spread Sec
lions in our own and other countries, nor have
the prices, as a whole taking gold at par), been
greater than at the present time nor has our stock
been closer bought up. The demand for our
eheaper rams, from Texas aud Colorado, is very
large, and the prices paid for that class OF rams
are nearly twice that paid year or two ago.
Texas Is now calling for a much better class OF
rams, and some ewes at good prices As high rs
$500 has been paid by breeder OF that state
within few DAYS for ram to take there The
nearer western states taking all the good ewes
and rams we have TO spare at much larger prices
Choice stock rams have been sold from 500 up to
" 900 and 81, 800 for single rams, while some
that are proving extra stock getters are held
above, and would command much higher figures
The income from some OF these rams iustfes
these figures. One has two hundred ewes en-
gagged at $40 each, and his owner has been retus-
Ing for some time to book any more. Another
had over hundred ewes last season (besides his
owners ~ at $25 each. or course 81 600 or 50 900
would be low for rams that are bringing their
/ ing five thousand nine hundred sixty-fve Merino
sheep for breeding purposes, left the station at
| this place for points west and southwest during
| 1880. Those sent by express would bring the
| numbers TO over six thousand. have not yet
ascertained the numbers sent thus far this year,
but think 1t must be much larger than TO this time
| last year. Large numbers have been sent from
other stations in this county and In other counties
In the state, but have no data to give numbers.
| Mr. Markham president OF the New York Wool
| Growers Association, informs me that the bus-
ness Is in very fourishing condition In western
| New York Good sheep are In demand, at high
and increasing prices, and have assurances OF a
like character from our prominent members in
Ohio, Michigan and other western states. 1t is
| fair to presume that some part OF this Is due to
| recording these sheep, and thus, through regis
ter, giving some guarantee that the blood OF
| sheep sold is pure. 1t has reflex influence on
| the work of our Register. Over forty new mem.
| bers and Hocks have been received during the
| last month. Nearly all these nocks were made
up OF registered sheep and their increase. and
| entered as new iocks In the names Of new own
ers who are starting nocks Of Merino sheep Our
cash deposits for six days have been $500 for
these new members and flocks, and for the lambs
added to hocks longer record. Most OF the
lambs are sent in TO be recorded in August, which
makes the receipts larger during the last days OF
that month than at other seasons of the year. In
every way the success OF our Register is very
gratifying, and the outlook for the future Is very
encouraging, as well as for the industry In whose
interest 1t was formed, and designed to promote. u