Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-12
THE WOOL SHEEP.
Kind of American nTerino That Is in De-
nand To-day.

Kind OF Amepicnn nfSr1nO Inat IN de-
mapd Today.
For two years past all the best sheep
that could be spared from Vermont,
New York and Michigan have been ex-
ported to Australia and sold at auction
at good prices, as soon as out of quaran-
tine Mature assists us in this climate
to raise more fibers to the square inch
than can be done in any other country,
and density is what Australians want.
Their flocks are turned to pasture all the
year round and must take the storms.
Their ewes crossed with our rams give
lambs with heavier and denser tleeces,
especially over the backs and hips, which
help to keep the storms and rays of the
sun from penetrating the fleece.
The Vermont merinos of thirty years
ago cut heavy neeces in comparison with
their carcasses. ] have seen ewes which,
after they were shOrn, would not weigh
over fifty pouns,. When wool was worth
from fifty to seventy cents per pound it
might do to crowd number Of these lit
Ito animals into q pen for The profit on
the wool, but what could we do with
such little greasy fellows today? They
would not pay for either wool or mutton.
We want bold, high headed animals
with level tops, broad backs and loins,
wen sprung ribs and good length of
bodies, with strong legs set under them,
not too short but upright and able to
carry them about SO thar they can take
good care of themselves. When mature
the right kind Of merino ewes should
weigh 100 pounds and the rams $50. We
need not fear to ship carcasses of this
size to market, if fat, and sell them be-
side those Of tho mutton breeds.
It is wen to bear III mind that form
and size go together. How often does
not desirable com bination of both help
TO sell! Iput form, size and constitu-
ton first; but they must be covered with
meiiuo wool to make them valuable. All
parts Of the body should be covered with
wool of as even a length Of staple and
as thick as possible. The wool on the
belly should be az long as that on the sides
aud hips, and the legs should also be well
covered down to the hoofs The fleece
on a wrinkly sheep is thickest, but a
flock Of breeding ewes should not be ex-
cessively wrinklv, though they should
have GOOD neck foll,, and be also mod
e-ately wrinkly on the sides and over the
hips. The ran should be well wrinkled
all over. Some breed for finer fiber than
others, but we must have u good fair
fleece as even as possible. by this do
not mean the silky, snow white fleece
that the wool buyers so often say is the
kind the farmer should raise. We cannot
get enough of that kind Of wool on a
sheep, but we do want nice, criInpy
fleece with firm fiber, Light buff oil
well distributed. 1t should not, how
ever, form III hard clots, as these are
Objectionable. The length of staple
should be about 24 inches, and the
thicker it is the better. Such sheep,
that shear, with ordinary care, an aver
age of from ten to twelve pounds of I'M
washed wool worth twenty cents per
pound, will pay on a farm now. Year
ling rams are worth ten dollars for west
ern trade. If farmers would take the
same extra pains to keep flock of sheep
up TO the standard that they take to get
the best machinery and fertilizers for
their grain crops they would find that
sheep would pay better than grain. 1t
seems strange to some to SEQ us housing
our sheep and giving them such extra
care, but it generally pays the owner in
the end TO have his stock in good condi-
ton to show breeders who wish TO buy.
If one wishes to breed the modern
type Of sheep he must be particular il
his selection. He should keep only his
best ewee for breeders, and buy no cullt
better to buy fewer and pay more
money and start right. Many make q
mistake in not using good enough stock
rams. Next to selection come the proper
care and feed. We must raise clover hay
TO be good shepherds. We grow and
feed more of it than does Vermont. This
is one of the reasons why our sheep are
larger and stronger than those in the
Green Mountain State. II is a natura
food for them, and they will do we'll or
it with small grain ration and pure
water. Watch the lambs carefully and
keep them growing all the time. Do moi
allow a setback on account of the lack Of
the right kind Of food. Procure it fol-
them and you will mature them without
trouble into model American merinos
j. II. Earl, Secretary American meri
no Sheep breeders Association.