Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-05
SECOND DAY.
Friday Morning SesSiSn.

| AT 10 O'CLOCK the Oanu again sounded
the call, and 1t was but short time un-
til the hall WAS filled. The minutes of
the proceedings of the preceding day
were read and approved.
The first topic ON the programme was
"What Breeds of Sheep are best in
Eastern Ohio?" The discussion was
opened by W. B. Law, President of the
Sheep Breeders Association of Harrison
County, who spoke in favor of the thor
oughbred Spanish Merino and their
grades, making strong argument in
their favor, which we regret we cannot
give in full for want of space. He was
followed by Jos. II. Close, of st. Clairs-
vile, who said:
The question as to the best breeds of sheep
for Eastern Ohio having already been ably dis
cussed by Mr.. Law, there would seem to remain
for me the pleasant and lighter duty, simply to
say that of what has been said l heartily ap-
prove and endorse. In fact | have been think
ing that the inquiries we making to-day, as
to the best breeds of sheep for Eastern Ohio,
find an answer in the already adopted breeds
propagated in this section, and that too, after
long years of experience and experimenting.
The husbandman and farmer, as a rule, are not
philosophers and yet they arrive at conclusions
that in many cases will stand the test of phil
osophy-as in the case under discussion. My
only apology for continuing this discussion to-
day is the consideration that all may not have
| profted by the light of past experience. Others
may contemplate embarking in this, to them,
new enterprise; while others, young in sheep
husbandry. may be largely profited by such dis
cussion; and, besides, the condition of things
pertaining to this business may not continue
uninterruptedly in the future without thought
and discussion. The conditions that enter into
and exert a controlling irfience so numer-
Gus, that in the limited tim. allotted this dis
cussion we can barely hint at, and enumerate
but few. We assert that the two-f fold object
to be kept constantly in mind by the flock mas :
ter as the ultimate end of all sheep -husbandry
is the loom and shamble. Now the largest per
cent for both loom and shambe at given cost,
is to be especially sought after by the flock
master. a consideration of these will embrace
soil, climate and vegetation, and an approximate
estimate of cost of production must embrace
and include as part of the estimate the value
of lands to be so used; the nature and extent
of the husbandry, for, as is well known. all who
engage in this husbandry are not to be classed
as shepherds; on the contrary but few are really
shepherds. So we can but conclude that if any
one particular breed is really adapted to East
ern Ohio, (good and bad care included), then
this breed must possess largely the animal
adaptation to varied conditions and circum-
stances. We know that man the higher ami
NAL but poorly adapts himselfin many instances
to -husbandry. In making up our final
estimate and as aiding to reach conclusion as
to the very best breed for this section. this ele-
ment of adaptation, or powers of endurance,
must not be lost sight of; in short must be
reckoned one of the largest factors of the whole.
1t is not proof TO cite an isolated case of sue
cess attained from any particular breed of
sheep under the most favorable circumstances,
embracing the best of care, luxuriant pastures
with an additional liberal supply of grain, &C.;
but the test must go farther to establish pre-
cedent, and embrace a comparison under Just
the reverse and adverse circumstances. 1t is
an admitted fact that any and every breed will
pay best with the very best of care, although
some breeds may live, not thrive, roaming over
the now barren fields and seeking shelter be-
hind wall fence, and even made some returns
| for the ''ioom," even with this gross neglect.
The breed possessing the most adaptation or
animal endurance is most likely to live through
this treatment To the Industrious man is
ssheep-husbandry much letter adapted than
to the lazy, careless, thriftless farmer. Again
the size and location of farms has much TO do
with determining the breed best adapted to this
particular case. Ii the farm be small, adjacent
to city, where mutton is large consideration
then some of the long-wooled breeds may be
propagat to profit, the stock and increase an
nul IL o lverted into money. But to the hus-
bandman NTH large farm, where wool is the
first consideration and mutton the second con-
sideration, the breed with The best herding pro-
pensities and most endurance is hest suited
as Merino, that possesses so largely the animal
adaptation, aud more readily acclimates than
any other, lives and thriyes in the cold noun
famous regions of the North, and in the mild
salubrou. climate. and can endure the intense
heat Of the extreme south, and in every var.e.
of climate, produce Merino wool, differing only
in the grades of fiber becoming courser in warm
climates. All grades of wool are needed to sup
ply the demand for our various kinds of goods
from the short, fine Saxon Merino fleece of one
and one fourth inches in length, for the fine
broad cloths, to the lustrous combing of 10 to 15
inches in length, for ladies' shoe hastings, fine !
worsted dress goods, military sashes, &c. Inl
short. every grade of wool we can produce has |
ready market for home consumption, as we are
annually importing one-iourth Of our consump-