Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-08-30
SAxONY SHE'D.
They Still Have Their Friends In the United
States.

They Still Have Their Friends In the United
States.
Ono of the most interesting chapters
in tho history of sheep raising in the
United States comprises the period from
1920 to 1916, when the brilliant pros
poets of the Saxony sheep and its fieeces
were utterly dashed TO the ground by the
tariff of 1916. This industry may be
said to have been u creature of national
legislation from its beginning, or at
least from 1928 to the fatal ending.
Spanish Merino sheep were brought in
at time when the American people
were seeking entire Independence from
the mother country in every line OF
products used by the people. Previous
to this time the sheep of the country
were mongrel mixture Of breeds, whose
fleeces were only used in clothes for
working people The finer grades of
clothing goods were imported. The Span
ish Merino sheep widely accommodated
itself to the conditions afforded in this
country, the crosses giving fleeces that
very nearly approached the pure bred
in fineness and beauty. From 1902 to
1920 the Spanish Merinos became wide
ly disseminated, and to all outside APP
pearances seemed capable of holding
their own against anything that might
dispute possession with them. But the
Saxony's fleece was so fine, so beauti-
full, and the cloths were so excellent,
and broadcloth suits SO aristocratic and
within the reach of well to do people,
that no other sheep could satisfy the
people. To add to the popularity of the
Saxony sheep the wool was worth from
So to So. so per pound. The farmers
were captivated with such prices, and
not stopping to think about the increas-
ed weight of the Spanish Merino feeces
and the slight difference in the prices of
the two kinds Of wool kept on buying
Saxony sheep at fancy prices.
1t was found when the crash came
that nearly all Spanish sheep had been
crossed with these exceedingly fine
wooded Saxons. and the constitution of
1t was not difficult to care for high
priced sheep. whose fleeces brought 81
or SIS each, but when the bottom fell out
and values went down the flocks went
to destruction.
In the meantime the Saxony sheep
had q few friends in Washington coun-
ty, Pa, i'll contiguous parts of West
Virginia and OH the opposite side of the
river in Ohio These gentlemen We're
well qualified for the charge of these
Electoral sheep. In 1884 they organized
the National Improved Saxony Sheep
Breeders association and issued their
fisrt register. There were scarcely more
than LOO of this breed entitled to a
place in the book of record 'The aim
has been to breed large well formed,
vigorous sheep and at the same time re-
tain the beautiful white, crimpy wool
of the Saxony" Still continuing to
quote from their book: 'By long per-
severance we have secured our object,
and we now consider the improved Sax
ony an established breed, producing with
great regularity lambs of the highest
order, both in regard to fleece and
body. The object of our society is not
to get up a boom, to use the favorite
expression of the day, in order that
prices of stock may be inflated above
value, but our design is to preserve our
blood pure that we may continue to i'm
prove and go on as near to perfection as
possible. 1t was a matter of surprise
and regret that this breed not ex-
hibited at the Worlds Columbian ex-
position. The plump, round forms,
without wrinkles, short, well set necks
of these sheep, standing on short,
straight, strong legs with well shaped
feet, with wool grading xxx or above,
long, white, dense, crimpy, free from
curly spots on top of shoulders or back
and extending evenly over the whole
body" would have been of no ordinary
interest to visitors, especially the for
eign wool experts, who were there to
see what Americans were doing in fine
wool growing.
While Saxony flocks are not being in
! creased in this country, it is just to say
that the few breeders who remain stead
fast are doing as well as anybody in the
| sheep bu@iness and expect to continue to
improve their flocks as long as they
| live. The f1eeces find a special demand
and at high prices, which justifies the
raising, and when they put their weth-
ers on the market they bring quite fancy
prices Nor are the weights by any
means inconsiderable as compared with
other breeds of sheep. Whether in the
course of time, as the evolutions of agri
culture and sheep husbandry go on, the
Saxony sheep will be extensively dis
seminated remains to be seem This
breed is gradually decreasing in Ger
many, being supplanted by mutton
breeds, which gives an expectation that
some day there shall be an undersupply
of this most estilnable grade of wool. =
r. M. Bell i'll American Agriculturist.
| Live Stock Points.
In Edinburgh surgical operation fol
tumor was successfully performed OF
| the throat of valuable bull The tI1mo,