Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-09-11
Sheep Jnterest.
VERMONT MERlNOS IN AUS
TRAlIA.


our pleasing task to give some figures re-
lating to the venture of those pioneers OF
enterprise, Messrs. f. n. Bssell q Son
of East Shoreham, and Messrs. ii. I.
Burwell & Son of Briuport Vermont,
The sales took place in Sydney on July
8, before large and interested auditory
of Australian sheep breeders and wool
growers. including many of the leading
suuatters of the colonies, especially the
Tasmanian breeders of fine Merino stud
sheep. who were on the ''Qui tice' to note
any points in the American animals
which looked likely for adoption at some
future time. Although there was very
fair competition for the Vermont sheep
and they sold with some spirit, yet the
average results are not so good as last
years figures, except for the few extra
superior sheep which made high prices.
The Vermonts sold relatively quite As
we'll as the Australian pure blood sheep,
but all round the breeders has to confess
to a great feeling of disappointment at
the averages running so low.
Of the imported sheep, Messrs. Bissell
made top price for one ram, bred by j.
NJ. Parker, 100 guineas, this being 10
guineas above their highest price in 1890;
9 rams bred by II. II. Dewey and f. y.
Bissell made 100 guineas each; , rams
bred by E. y. Bssell and j. :. Wood
fetched 50 guneas each, ram bred by
:. j. Northrup made 60 guineas: ram
bred by j. Forbes made 80 guineas; ram
bred by Lewis Chennett made iG guineas
ram bred by ii. j. belong Il Son made
~ guineas; the others ranging from ~
guineas down to very moderate figures,
20 guineas and Is guineas.
Messrs. Bissells' average price for 60
rams was about 30 guineas, very much
lower than last season, the 81 ewes
which are perhaps the same animals
which did not find buyers at the previous
sales, realized an average of 30 guineas;
] eve bred by H. A. Bascom made 60
guneas; 2 ewes bred by E. n. Blssell
made 81 and 80 guineas; eve bred by
j. \. Bell made II gulneas: l eve bred
by F. C. Wood made 10 guineas; Others
ranging down to 20 guineas for ewes
bred by c. F. Atwood, j. a. Bell, y. A.
Wood, f. Campbell, IL. 5. Brookins, c..
u. Crane, etc.
Messrs. Burwell's eight rams averaged
54i guineas, and IL ewes Gl guineas. All
but two were stated to have been bred by
themselves. The top price for rams was
100 guneas, others went from 30 guineas
down to II guineas. Some of the ewes
fetched 100 guineas, Others ranged from
50 guineas down to 10 guineas. One eve
in this lot, bred by II. ID. Jackson, fetch
ed 80 guineas, another eve 10 guineas.
The Burwell parcel was said to be very
superior in selection and style. One
hundred and fifty-one rams sold for ac-
count of f. l. Warby. \ poor lot of
animals and hardly fit for this market
made an average of II guineas only, the
prices paid ranging from 4 guineas for |
ram, 3 guineas for 10 rams, down to a
guinea head for balance. The parcel
consisted of about 100 selected flock rams
and 80 stud rams, but the prices will no
doubt prove disheartening. Many of the
Australian sheep. however, fetched only
about the same figures, and. as before
SAID, breeders were quite sick at the poor
returns.
1t is perhaps necessary to impress upon
Vermont sheep growers once more that
1t is worse than useless to send any but
the very choicest sheep to the Australian
markets.
Not only are the financial results dis
appointing, but it gives the opponents OF
American-bred sheep a handle to say
nasty things about them as a class, anG
there is still existing a good deal of pre-
judice against their use in some quarters
1t is, however, satisfactory to report tina
the sheep sold have got into fresh ant
good hands and will, so far as the bes
are concerned, keep up the reputation o.
the Nermonts for heavy, profitable
fleeces. 1t is reported that the WOO
grown on one of the Queensland stations
from cross between the American anC
Australian sheep, has not only shorn
much heavier fleece. but has sold at some
thing like 10 per cent more money than
the wool clipped from ordinary sheep OF
the same run.
The well-tired friends and champion
of Vermont sheep, Netherlands of Bar
ooga On. S. W. had about 40 sheep solC
of the Vermont-Australian breed from
their stud. One 3-year ram fetched 30
ouinpas. another ram 1 wears and
months old sold for 2S5 guineas
one ram l year old fetched IL
guineas; one ram 2 years old sold for o.
guineas; another 3-year-old sold for %
guineas. fair proportion of the , an
3-year old only fetched from 40 guinea
down to 20 guineas. The average realize
from IL rams was 52i guineas. This
nothing like so good as was expected
but probably sheep growers, owing {