Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-08

THE SHEEP TRADE.-Within the past
year there has been revival in the sheep
trade, and this increase of late has be
come so noticeable as to indicate gen.
uine "boom" in that branch of the live.
stock business. Sheep ,raisers have dur
ing several years past engaged in the
loudable enterprise of grading up their
1ocks, using for this purpose none but the
best rams of the several prominent fam.
lilies. In Wyoming and Nebraska, from
which localities the best mutton sold on
the Chicago market is obtained, the i'm
provement has been so marked as to place
those western states in tho front rank rs
sheep raising centers. The original step
in this advancement was the Merino cross
on tho native stock, and now, following
this general practice, but few traces of this
native sheep can be found. The progeny
OF this iudicous Merino cross are me.
dunn grade wool sheep, while for butcher
ing they are prominent as fine bon"d,
tender meated variety of mutton. These
sheep are Of hardy constitution, and
therefore easy TO handle, fact of which
Of course recommends them to breeders.
This grading up has resulted in the literal
determination of the leggy. long nosed
sheep so familiar in the market few
years ago, and these pioneers have been
replaced by what may be termed the
American sheep, whose reputation has
become not only national but world wide.
Nor has this Merino cross been confined
entirely to the native stock. Breeders
throughout the west have been expert
meuting upon the Cetswolds. Shropshires,
lIampshires and Southdowns Uhe latter
being generally considered the best mutton
in the word) and from many districts
where these experiments have been care
fully made the Merino sire has improved
tn, tlocks IN every case.
This Improvement has, however, not
been entirely among the mutton sheep.
There are flock masters who insist that
the Merino cross upon any of the long or
fine wool varieties will always increase
the value of the fleece. This cross on the
glossy long wool LeicesterShire gives con.
stItution and stamina, and, while its
product is Il much finer wool, yet the
peculiar gloss is retained, and the fleece
consequently commands much higher
price.
Ia Illinois and Ohio several large i'm
lJUl lhllOEo vi 'pulOPCoiil h'tNb bSOi litlIt
| since last spring, and this family seems t
be growing in favor. They are very
/ welghty sheep, growing to an immense
size and combining, as they do, the best o
mutton with feeces second to none il
texture, are bound to become popular
. Sheep raising is on the incre sc, and tn,
: valleys OF Wyoming seem to be the mos
r preferable localities for range. Tho i'm
4 poltance of the trade has for several year
; been lost sight Ct in a great measure b.
western stockmen, who have been engage
) IN advancing the interest Of the cattl
: trade almost exclusively. The fact is Their
Y is no branch of the live stock trade tha
S presents more attractions for beginner
:. than the raising of sheep. A flock
+ properly cared for can be doubled ever
= year, and it has been demonstrated that th
s wool will in nearly every instance pay til
s cost OF feeding. herding and marketing.
n In these days of graded sheep, whe
c mutton is bringing four and four and
n half cents in Chicago, it does not requir
g proficient mathematician to figure th
I large profit accruing from well-manage