Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-15

length on this branch of the subject. The
session closed with a general discussion
on the topic of dairying, which was par
ticipated In by Mr.. L. b. Douglas of
Shoreham and others.
EVENING.
The meeting was called to order at
Z 80. The committee having failed to
procure music, Chairman Peet at once
introduced the first speaker, Mr.. Albert
Chapman of Middlebury, who, in an
entertaining way, discussed some of the
benefits of sheep-growing and how to
make it most profitable. Cattle-raising,
he said, is decreasing the fertility of Yer
mont pastures. Sheep-raising not only
restores and preserves the fertility of the
soil, but renders easy the winter-keeping
of other stock, especially colts. Again,
it will give Vermont farmers what they
most needless hard work. In breeding
the highest type of sheep-the Merino-
beginners should remember that it re-
quires more skill and experience than
most farmers have. All farmers need
not get the very best bloods, Whatever
the breed, care pays. Some advise that
we neglect wrinkles, but men of exper-
fence know wrinkles produce density of
fleece and strength of fibre-just the
qualities that have brought Addison
county sheep into great demand. The
present cheapness of wool and the de-
mand for mutton make it highly impor-
tant that our sheep should yield large
fleeces and have constitutional vigor.
This is brought about only by better
feeding during the winter. The best
feed is upland hay, oats and oil meal. a
little grain each day is far better than a
large amount for few weeks.
The next speaker, Mr.. C. NJ. Winslow
of Brandon, said he would speak of the
sheep arlstocracv-the Merino. a farm
er cannot succeed with best bloods unless
he have a peculiar love for the business.
For all to breed the best Merino is foolish
There are now less sheep in the State
than for many years. AS a result, much
land is going to waste and the revenue OF
the State is decreased. This is all wrong
Vermont is especially adapted to sheep
raising and her people understand the
business. The peculiar atmosphere OF
Australia and South America makes the
fleece dry and runs out the flock. There
is, therefore, a constant demand upor
Vermont for highly-bred rams to renew
the vigor of these flocks. And Vermont
ers should raise only the best. MerinC
sheep should be grown for mutton
Great care should be taken, however, il
crossing lest it injure the quality of the
wool. 1t is possible to produce large
fleece upon large carcass. Farmers
should pay more attention to the feeding
of late lambs during the winter for sale
next spring.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Winslow's adj
dress there was brief discussion. Mr.
Peet wanted to know if it would be pos
sible to sell Merino mutton. Mr.. Winslov
thought it might be sold in the usua
way: that is. as SOuthdown mutton. Mr.
Rolin c. Smith of Pittsford disagreed
with Mr.. Chapman statement that sheep
raising increases the fertility of the soil
and brief remarks were made by others
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
A. II. Hubbard of Whiting made tn
first address, on "The Future Outlook o.
Sheep Industry" Vermont NAV truth
fully be called the birthplace and hom
of the improved Merino sheep. he said
1t is time of severe depression in th
interest, which we believe to have heel
caused largely by our legislative bodie
in the agitation OF the tariff question
We confess our deep disappointment tina
our President, instead of favOring TIN
wool interests of our own country, fa
vors those of our foreign competitor :
1t is time. with organized effort. to worl
once more with redOubled energy to max
up for the loss sustained during thes
times of severe depression. Sheep serv
three great purposes, to produce their kind
to produce mutton and to grow wool
Among the many different varieties tn
Merino seems best adapted for all pur
poses. Writers in many of our Wester
States assert that the Vermont Merino
sought after As in every way the best 70
their section, being not only hardy, bu
yielding more value in wool and mutto
than any cross-bred sheep. 1t is state
that about 90 per cent of all the sheep i
the United States are thoroughbred o
grade Merinos. A great point of encoul
agement to Vermont sheep-breeders is tn
desire among all fock-masters from tn
Atlantic to the Pacific coast to raise tw
pounds of wool where one was Original
ly grown. In regard to wool it is an es
tablished fact not only in one lOcalit
, but everywhere, that. as TO quality. n
better is produced. We can justly loo
for better prices for wool i'm the near fl
ture, and reasonable advance in tn
price of wool means an increased deman
for Vermont sheep. If we mistake no
: the signs of the times, we have goo
reason to hope for an improvement i
this enterprise at no distant day.
Messrs. Peet, Winslow, Smith of Pitts
ford, Mr.. Vail of Pomfret Ga member O
. the board), Mr.. Edgar Sanford and MI
Albert Chapman discussed at some lengt
the ideal sheep.
Next came IA paper by Mr.. Vail on "Th
Dairy" Jerseys were the predominatin
breed in his section. The question of fee
is the important one. Grass is the perfec
food for the dairy COW: fodder corn come
next. He used northern corn forensiag
: in preference TO the southern. A well
: of 300 lbs of butter per COW per year ga
be obtained only by liberal feeding. FIR
silage may be fed so literally as to injur
!, the quality of butter. If everything
, convenient, a silo will pay for yer
small number of cows as well as for
larger number.
AFTERNOON.
Prof w. w. Cooke of Burlington, SEE
retary of the board, spoke on the topic
Ensilage and Soiling Crops" A silC