Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-12-13

|
out any ones saying it is quack adver-
tisement; each bottle is labeled, sure
death to registration, but life and ac-
tiyity to the trade. The trademark is
a Merino ram that tips the beam at $50
and over, is four feet ten inches long,
he has a Merino pedigree that reads from
| the tip of his nose to his heel, the tab in
his ear is No. and marked constitution,
has a greater length of wool for the
time of growth than any sheep in the
State, and will cut as many pounds of
tc0ol, and after doing a hard service of
between three and four hundred with
the wool clipped from his under-side is
show sheep today.
TO still convince you of the demand
for Il wool and mutton sheep will give
you sample letter from the many [
have lately received.
/ GEO. I. DIMIoCK.
! WEST CORNWALL. VT, Dec. 2. 1880.
MARYsvILLE, o., Nov. %, 1889.
GEO. Il. DIMMOCK. ESQ,
/ L
terest your article in the Middlebury
REGISTER of Nov. Is, entitled, "Some
Cues tions", as it treats OF subject |
am greatly interested in. | have been
breeding and handling sheep for over
twenty-five years and look upon it as
the basis of success for agriculture in
Central Ohio.
! But to reach the highest remuneration
from breeding, the question is asked
almost daily "IVhdt shat Ibreed?' The
breeders of Ohio for the past five years
have seemingly been demoraized. Wool
having been reduced in value by the
reduction of the tariff and the heavy i'm
portations OF wool and wooden fabrics
at reduced values has made the produc
ton of wool alone not profitable: con-
sequently thousands of sheep in Ohio
have been sacrificed; many farmers have
held to their flocks have been compelled
gone into other pursuits and those that
to combine the production of mutton
with that of wool. Many farmers that
had good Merino flocks have sold them
for what they would bring and have en-
barked in the enterprise of Cotswod or
Shropshire, claiming that the extra
growth of mutton more than compensa-
ted for the loss in wool. Others with
Spanish Merino ewes have introduced
the Shropshire ram, producing lamb
that fattened readily at SIX to eight
months of age, weighing IS to 80 lbs. and
bringing five to five and One-half cents
per pound. But what is the result of
all this class of breeding? The farmer
cannot build up "A desirable flock, for he
is selling his young stock (Which should
in all breeding be an inprovemen) and
is soon left with a flock of old ewes
with no young ones to take their places.
This class of breeding has been almost
universal through Central Ohio for the
past four years and to such an extent
that good Spanish Merno ewes are very
scarce and are commanding extreme
prices. You might say, why have they
not saved their eve lambs from the
Merino eve and Shropshire bucks and
use them for breeding. The answer is
just this, What have you? Neither a
fine nor a coarse sheep, and when you
breed them you have no character to
your flock, for they will scatter like an
old musket.
Consequently the breeders are begin
ming to settle down to the idea of a
Spanish MernO sheep combining NUT
ton With wool; so that the great demand
of today (here) is for large rams with
good bone, smooth body and in fact
free from wrinkles; covered with long
white fleece free from excessive grease
and especially very little external grease
or blacktop. Now | am fully aware
that your breeders of Vermont would
spurn the above ideas, but experience is
the best teacher. Our surplus sheep
have to go for mutton and the sheep
that will feed off at five years old and
weigh when fatted l20 lbs. Is what they
are seeking. Quite a number of our
breeders are going to Pennsylvania and
: buying the National Delaine rams and
, are crossing them with our Spanish ewes
, while they are not gaining in fibres to
the square inch they gain in constitu-
ton (Which Randall is his work says is
the then most essential point in breed
ing). Now, without speaking dsparag-
, ingly of the Vermont flOcks or censur-
ing anyone, | make this prediction, that
the breeders of Ohio will never go back
to the wrinkly, greasy sheep of, ten
! years ago.
While the breeders of stud focks may
breed them and preach them, the expert
enced breeders of grade or unregistered
sheep do now and will in the future de.
e mand smooth type of sheep. You say
in your article 1.-THE near West is as ST.
lent as the grave" Why is this? Be-
cause they cannot find in Vermont what
A the trade demands and are looking in
i other markets. But ! do not see why
q Vermont cannot produce the style OF
sheep Ohio is wanting and not pandel
to the whims of Australia.
5 There are many varied experiences
t might give you, but for fear of exhaust
q ing your patience will close.
Hoping to hear from you direct OF
: through the REGISTER.
t | am,
t Your obd't servant,
G. 5. CHAPMAN.
|, | am intimately acquainted with II. C
q Burwell of your State, having bough
sheep of him.
Mr.. Chapman undoubtedly refers t.
h the grade Merinos of his State when h,
p says "they are scarce and commanding
n extreme prices"
q TT n