The Somerset reporter., 1885-03-18

The Lewiston Journal correspondent has
the following:
Recently / visited the premises of Mr..
Charles b. Gilman, OF Bingham, Somerset
county. Mr.. Gilman Is one OF the enter
prisiug farmer, oil this section and makes
specially of Devon stock aud long wooded
sheep. A prettier sight is seldom seen
than his eighteen head of Devious standing
in his te.up. they are all OF the charac-
teristc dark red color aud have the white
switch, n mark peculiar TO the Devon breed
of stock.
Mr.. G.lmans herd is one OF the Oldest In
tbi, section having been originally founded
more thad quarter of a century ago from
the Wentworth herd of Poland. Since
that time additions have been made from
other blood, notably from the importations
of Mr.. Failes OF New York and Anderson
and Lombard of Maine.
Mr.. Gilman has fiue bull AZ the head of
bis herd. The nerd has all grades incluJ-
ing some fine steets and heifers. His stock
has been bred with care and one can see
here the peculiar distinctive feature Is OF
the really excellent breed Of sock in all
stages of growth from the very young TO
tie mature animal.
But what Interested me fully as much rs
Glman's flock of native sheep.
Stepping Into the basement OF the harm
We came To the quarters OF the sheep.
Probably there are few hocks in Maine
N hich have been bred continuously for the
leugth of time this one has, and for the
past twenty-five years the system adopt, d
h a. been one TO greatly improve both the
wool and carcass. This flock which num-
beers one hundred ewes were originally OF
the common native course wooded stock,
prevail, ut here century ago, aud were
bred by the late David Gilman, for fifty
years and by his son, the present owner OF
The estate, tor twenty-five years. During
the at er 8 management, the system adopt
e., has been quite different from that adopt
ed by his prcgenitor, with corr, spending
diff. renee in results attained in the excel
lency OF the flock
One of the main points In which they
differed will mention.
In the first flock, the best lambs were
picked by the drover for period probably
of forty years, or every years after the
commencement of driving lambs from
Maine to Mass. But on the contrary he
selected the best from his fathers flock
ABOUT quarter of century ago, and for
the first seven years paid strict attention
to increase the weight OF fleece. This was
done by carefully weighing each fleece al
st ing time, aud then numbering each
sheep aud then carefully nDtiug down the
weight of each fleece in pounds and ouuces
opposite the plumber Of each sheep in
book always kept ON the shearing bench
for the purpose. ID the fall the flock for
winter was selected strictly by the book.
The largest sheHres were picked out and
sold 10 the butcher retaining the heavies,
sheares, in all cases to he kept on the
farm. By this practice. In seven years 1t
was found that the ewes had gained from
litale less than four pounds per head on AN
average to seven pounds; the rams IRON
six to twelve, and fourteen pounds per head
while the live weight Of the animal mas
ever remained about the same, TO wit:
about one hundred pounds Tor The ewes,
and thirty TO fifty pounds more for the
rams. Considering that attention was CIV
en- to the general development of all the
otaer valuable qualities, such as length,
tneness, and eveDDess OF staple OF wool,
and that too, over the whole body, also the
breeding, milking and nursing qualities,
shortening the legs, breeding out OF horns,
and all other worthless matter, and for the
production of well propOrtloned carcass,
with robust constitution fitted to endure
our frigid climate, and to substst aud even
flourish on the heritage Of our pastures In
summer, add fields ia winter, without grain
or roots, In other words, to make them the
sheep for the gen. raj farmer OF Maine, the
reader would naturally wish to know just
how much Improvement has been made In
twenty-five years by selection and proper
mating, aside from increased richness OF
food or climatic influences. 10 answer, he
increase in weight OF fleece that has been
alluded to, but the number of tibers to the
square inch have been increased one third,
aud the length Of staple still more, as the
clip has been sold late years for the manu-
faclure of delai, es. Indeed, SO much Inn
provemtn, had been made fifteen years ago
that when these sheep were exhibited at
the New England fair held In Portland, one
Vermont paper recommend, d their intro
duction into that State as means OF
len2 thening the staple of their merinoes.
or their breeding qualities Mr.. Gilman
says: they raise about one hundred per
cent Of lambs, a sufficient number raising
twins, to make up for those that accident
ally loose theirs" Then general looks and
appearance show unmistakabie evidence Of
sk i'll, patience and perseverance in their
breeding They all have clean, white, faces
no horns, with we'll proportional body
covered with a long white staple OF wool
measuring five inches as pulled from the
sheep to-day, Feo. Odd, lock of which l
send you.
The course parts around the hind quar-
teIs having been bred out, these sheep
show resemblance to each other and as
many evidences OF thorough breeding as
the Southdowu and Mcrino. Their lambs
fatten early so as to be sent to the butcher
at four months, and their cleansed feeces
I'M unuCh No "a MarinO