The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-03-17
That Taintor Ram

ions to persons in different parts of
he county.
March first was very stormy day;
only fifteen persons were present.
The ram was shorn; samples were Civ
Ell away weighing from one ounce to
one pound, (only one of the latter), to
all present, and the fleece weighed, not
these samples, fifty-nine and
pounds.
Now, Mr.. Editor, / wish to say few
words, and under the circumstances l
think can safely plead justification.
Two rams were imported by K. q.
Farnham and myself in the fall Of 'Sl:
one two years old, "Blacow," kept by
myself; one ycarling "Jay Could" kept
by Z. u. Farnham.
"Blacow" was shorn October 10,
1880, and shorn again March /, 1882,
something over sixteen months fleece.
"Jay Gonld" was shorn April 10,
1881, and at this writing has eleven
months and two days fleece.
Gentlemen, his fleece in quantity
and quality is something wonderful,
and should attract the attention of all,
except that class who believe that
sheep have some higher destiny to per-
form than the production of wool and
mutton.
In October, '8l, received "Blacow"
from picnic excursion of four thous-
and miles. He came through in COM
pany with younger brother. They
were eleven days in transit.
Went in company with e G Farnham
to see the "remains" of tender con-
stitutioned animal, which credulity, OF
which we have large share when you
come to talk about.shcep, had beguiled
us into investing in. We took them
from their confinement, and, 10 and be.
hold, they were vigorous, strong and
showed no appearance of having been
confined or transported single mile.
A little express bill of $20S.84 which
was presented to us, made us think
that these weakly specimens had been
stopping of at water cures and thus
furnishing us for our temerity. But
upon closer inspection of these aristo-
cratic and distinguished looking stran-
gers we resolved ourselves into com.
nittec of two and resolved:
If we were an express company we
should want more money for transport
ing across the continent two sheep that
would shear over one hundred pounds
of wool and weigh when denuded one
sixth Of ton.
Resolved, So long as these animals
last, and with their present vigor they
promise well, no more raking bedding
in the morning to find those rare spe ci-
mems, viz: "The largest amount OF
wool to the smallest amount of carcass.
Resolved, That Article 2 of tho con-
stitution of the VT. M. S. B. A. Regis
ter says: "Object, to preserve the pu-
rity of the Spanish Merino race OF
sheep, encourage their further i'm.
provement, and as a means to these
ends to PROVIDE" &C., for histories and
pedgrees of the flocks of Spanish Meri.
no sheep in Vermont and elsewhere.
Research enabled us to quote from
Hon. w. G. Markham, of Avon, New
York, who has spent more of his own
money and time in sheep and wool in.
terests than any man of nv acquaint.
ance.
Rambouillet, February 4, 1Ss0.-The
director Bernardin of the government
flock of France answered thirty.one
questions put to him in writing by Mr..
Markham. call your attention to on.
ly two or three;
'First, The Rambouillet flock was
established In 1885,"
Gentlemen, almost century has pas.
sed since the establishment of this
flock.
I'd. and Sd. sat the beginning il
was composed of forty two bucks and
three hundred and thirty -four ewes"
In magnitude it contrasts well with
very many attempts at founding focks
in our community. Buy somebody's old
ewes, and take them to half dozen
different rams of entirely different
types of breeding, then set themselves
up as possessing the only true blood.
4lh. "These animals were taken
from ten of the best Spanish sheep
folds, according TO the recommends
ton of the King of Spain himself, and
were chosen from among elite sub
jects."
Please read the answer to the fourth
question over again and see if Mr..
Farnham and myself are not in letter
and in spirit living up to Article 2 OF
the VT. NJ. s. B. A. Register, and to
our own resolution.
For answers to Mr.. Markham's CUES.
tons in relation to the foundation OF
the Rambouillet flock see "New York
State American Merino Register" 1st
Volume, page 149.
Mr.. Editor, l have wandered some.
what from the subject. l again come
TO it. "Blacow" served over one hun.
dred ewes in twenty-five days, com.
mencing service the next day after be
landed. The last day of service mum.
bered twelve. 1t has never been my
lot to see as vigorous sheep. Eighteen
day she did not lie down, as chains were
kept snapped into ring in each horn
to keep him any ways quiet. March
LIST, as / have before stated, he was
shOrn. TO avoid any criticism In fu'
ture | would cheerfnlly invite any and
all my friends, and others, to look this
sheep over aud see thow he Is shorn
and also to see what he has shorn.
Gentlemen sheep breeders, think II
simply wonderful that sheep after be.
ing transported four thousand miles to
have the hard service in SO short 9
time, to then shear fleece of wool
weighing sixty pounds. l think nc
other sheep can do 1t and live. The
question ol PURIFY vi DlOou Roee DC
yond cavil. 1t Is simply historical
fact. Again, the only two rams that
know of in my acquaintance free from
what ia termed jar hairs are "Blacow'
and "Jay Could" The question of re.
production in stock remains 10 DO test
ed. These Taintor, or French, OF
Spanish rams will be handled judi.
cionf and with the knowledge Of eve
ry one. Handled with faith, handl.
ed with the belief that you "don'i
gather grapes from thistles nor fig
from thorns." We re :eived these she ep
without any raising of flags or blowing
of trumpets. We did not even 60 to
you, Mr.. Editor and ask for column
advertisement simply because you sent
us your paper at $3.50 per year.
These sheep will win, or l am mis-.
faHan and tf1 am shaIl Ia s.,at n