News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-10-08
Sheep Raising in NeU ENGLAND


Rev. DR.. Reuben Thomas of Brook
line, by birth and education an Eng
lishman, but by choice and adoption
a good Yankee, in a note to the BOs-
ton journal, suggested Il solution of
the deserted farm problem, which is
not new to readers of the Union, but
IS certainly worth emphasizing. He
says that he has often wondered why
the raising Of sheep on the New Eng
land hills has not been an extensive
and profitable business. He says
that the sweetness and succulencv of
the English mutton, as compared
with the American, is not due to the
superiority Of the English climate and
feed, for the downs where thesheep
do best have no rich grasses and the
climate is too foggy and damp to be
an ideal climate tor sheep" The diff
terence he declares to be in the breed
ing and the care given by men who
know their business. We cannot do
better than give DR.. Thomas sugges-
lions forsheepraising in New England
at length:--
Import the best breeds of sheen. both for
mutton and wool. Keepeach to it's speciality
import, also, shepherds who understand their
business; form, also, large sheen feedinprom-
Pahles, with capital enough to build large
bHrHS' WIZ sunny yards, for winter shelter;
use tie uplands for summer pasture and the
lOWlands Tor growing winter feed: PASS laws
when VIII defend the harmless creatures from
predatory dogs, and then New England hills
ought to be alive and beautiful with sheep
not eXcelled for quality in the wide world In
lima 10 ,Nf.,
to be employed vino will carefully study the
nature and preference of the animals 1t is
not less so with sheep than with cows and
horses. Blind, unteachable men are dear at
any price. A born shepherd will make a flock
pay handsome profit, while an ignoramus
would, with the same flock be certain to earn
a loss. If New England were alive to its on
portunity in this department. the time would
not be far distant when New England mutton
would be as celebrated as Old England mutt
ton Sheep can stand winter better than any
other animal on the farm carving their own
blankets with them, and for export they are
the easiest of all animals, rs they improve
even on the Atlantic voyage 1t is to be
hoped that this possibility of using to rood
advantage our beautiful New England hills
will not be lost sigAt of"
1t is well known that for certain
breeds of sheep, Vermont is famous
the world over, and the sheep breed
ers of that state do a large business
in the export of blooded animals to
the west, to Australia, South Africa
and other foreign countries. We can
see no reason why New England can
not raise just as good mutton as is
to befOund in the world if the farmers
will learn how and devote their at
tention to it. Every housekeeper
knows how difficult it is to find in the
market really good mutton. The
lean, stringy, tough meat served to
us as muttOncannO bemade delicate
and palatable by any method of
cooking, and yet we have eaten NUT
ton raised in New England, which
was as tender and juicy as any Eng
lishman could ask for. There is no
good reason why we should be con-
fined to western beef and pork in our
selection of meats, and if our farmers
will give us the best of mutton, as
they can, if they will devote them
selves to it, they will have control of
the market.-Springfeld Union.