The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-02-17
Profit In Pure Bred MerlnO Sheep

Wool.Growers' Association at their annual meet.
ing at Lansing, December IL, 1881, by 4. Is.
WEIGH, Paw Paw Mich.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW BREED.
ERs The subject which l have chosen
on which to make a few remarks is
"Profts to be obtained by breeding
thoroughbred Merino sheep, and the
care and management such sEehp
should receive.
The past year has been one of prost
perity to all branches of business bu-
unusually so to the breeders of through
bredc. know of no fock-master but
who has long since disposed of his
offerings, ewes as we'll as rams, at
good prices, the best we ever got in the
western part OF the state. There
never has been time, in my recollec-
ton, when thoroughbred stock was so
universally sought after and appreci-
ated as at the present time. In u lew
more years the long legged, bare
bellied sheep, that have been the
average farmers sheep 80 long, will
have disappeared, and our Merinos,
models of perfection, and their grades,
will have taken their places. We
could double and treble our focks,
and then could not begin to supply the
increasing demand. We in Van Buren,
county, could have sold four car loads
this season to have gone south, but
one load was all we could spare, and
some Of those. came from Kalamazoo
county. The0 sheep were nearly all
grades. We have q home demand for
all our throughbreds at better prices,
and have to draw on our eastern breed
ers; and this will so continue for years
to come, unless breeders increas faster
In the future than they have In the
past. And there is room for more
than are now engaged in breeding
this class of stock. There Is money in
IL for the progressive man, and always
will be; It is true there may come
times Of depression and lowering OF
prices, but the sheep of the great plains
OF the west and south west will have
TO be graded up, as the prairies are
not so well adapted for any other use
as they are for grazing. And l do not
think any of rs will live to see this
work completed; and even after this
has been accomplished they will have
10 draw on us for supplies to keep up
their focks. l have been breeding
Merino sheep for sixteen years, with
demands increasing and prices advanc-
ing. l sell but few of my ewes, and
never try TO make sale TO mar
that think would not make a succe 81
oft, a. IL would be a damage to me
In the end. let the most of my
surplus ewes on shares, as 1t pays me
better. Ireceive from them half the
wool and half the increase; you car
see this Is high interest and not only
pays me but pays the taker also, al
he gets q start In good sheep, and Il
no money out. or course 1t takes
some time to work up trade where
such sheep have not been Introduced
people have to be educated to the diff
ference between their sheep, shearine
from three to six pounds, aud gcoi
sheep, shearing from ten to fourteen
pounds Of washed wool, before they
will pay the prices we are now get
ting for our sheep; and the easiest
way l find 10 to let some of the sheer
ON shares, and get your stock scat
tered ~ much as possible, and II viii
not be long before you will receive
calls for all the rams You can raise
and the ewes you have let will bs
paying you about go per cent. interest
and do not know of any other way
that could invest my money tina
would pay me as we'll as this. Somt
may say say yon cannot on such term
let to responsible persons. l have
let sheep only to responsible men
and could have let thousand las
fall II had had them.
Il 10 not every man whe engages II
this business, though, who will b.
successful In II. In my observations
three have failed where one has beer
successful. 1t is like all other business
in order TO succeed, q man must bav,
q liking fer the business he eDgagel