Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-04-14
THE FARM AND HOME.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMER
IcAN MERINO.
Keep Them and Improve Them Nalua-
bile Facts About Fertilizers -Granalsr
butter soft-Shelled Eggs Farm Notes
and Home Hints.
rhonrht. bal the Merlao.


association, the president, ). h.
lusk. made. among othurs. the fol-
lswing remarks
| have little apprehension that
the American MerinO will be aban-
doned BY those who have heretofore
stayed by them in times Of depres-
sion, and know their value a sheep
that has constantly improved with Us
ii our climate, and with our manage
ment from its first introduction, now
well nigh one hundred years, And they
will also lind new friends The com
ing generation will want a sheep that
does not require foreign importations
to keep mp TO say nothing OF making
an Improvement II the inhabitants
OF the United States ever become
consumers 81 mutton 10 anything
like the extent that it is consumed
in England, believe mutton sheep
will be evolved from the American
Merino that will be adapted TO the
wants of the country; and as il IL
already acclimated will be susceptible
Of any needed improvement And
that all OF the so-called mutton
breeds have So far failed 10 do
But that which concerns A. most
Is what 10 do with the American
Merino as we find them to-day What
in my judgment we should do is 70
keep them and improve them, and
in looking about Us for chances for
improvement. il y II be we'll TO first
look and see that We have made no
mistakes
Some breeders years ago raised the
question as to the good or bad effect
OF our public shearings as they have
been managed. The announcement
goes out That's certain sheep sheared
a given number OF pounds Of wool.
and the carcass weighed So much.
And that is about all there is Of Il.
unless one Is there 20 see for himself
was present at shcaring. whore a
ram so inferior that no good breeder
would think Of using him, sheared
(not OF wool but Of stun that grew on
him with a litgle wool 10 hold il to.
gether.) more pounds than any other
ram shorn at that annual shcaring
Z
proclaimed the heaviest snearcr
at the New York state American
Merino sheep shcaring, and he
was not worth two dollar
note This. Of course. was an
extreme case; bnt in looking for inn
proyemeut in the future, il may be
we'll to see il some Of rs have not
Q 80
can we'll carry. although perhaps o.
good quality and only about the nee
cssary amount OF oil 10 Eubricatc
such a fleece. 4 ram weighing $50
pounds, fleece OF, and shcaring 80
pounds, carries before being shOrn
one pound OF fleece To five pounds 81
carcass is not that about all he can
we'll carry and be used FOR breeding
purposes. and keep mp his con-titu.
tiOn2 have known rams to shear
forty pounds, and weigh little more
than 100 pounds with fleece OF =
about one pound Of fleece to two
pounds OF carcass But ! have
never known such sheep Ia
/ live 20 be an old sheep. Perhaps.
g NAAEI E%l1hANA tAIAN AAl@ heAllGtsHt ~ MAY
be well TO improve the carcass. in
crease the size, and not pay quite 20
much attention 10 piling on the wool.
! think no one will disagree with me
in the Importance Of looking after
the quality.
One word more and ! am done.
Not even the American Merino can
improve II neglected n compelled
to fall back upon their constitution
to sustain themselves. they will sure.
I " deteriorate, Our lamented friend
and associate. the Hon. + Townsend.
once bought some Of our lavuritc
sheep. and got we'll written pcdi-
gree from a successful breeder Al
/ the bottom. written in bold hand.
/ were these words; Care Is the secret
Of success. He at the time was
scarcely out Of his teens; but often
said that it was the most valuable
1 pedigree he ever received.
| II the business is dull don't neglect
< the flock Care for It well, breed Il
in accord with your best Judgment,
and the American McrinO. tho best
sheep in the known world, will in
the future, as in the past, respond tc
any reasonable draft the breeder
may make upon the flock.