The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-11-10
SAXONY SHEEP.
They Still Har.1.eir Friends In the United
states.

states.
One of the most interesting chapters
in the 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 feeces
were utterly dashed to the ground by the
tariff Of 1916. This industry may be
said to have been a creature of national
legislation from its beginning, or at
least from 1928 to the fatal ending.
Spanish MerinO sheep were brought i'll
at a 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 a mongrel mixture of breeds, whose
feeces were only used in clothes fo1
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 feeces that
very nearly approached the pure bred
in fineness and beauty. From 1902 to
| 1920 the Spanish Merinos became wide
~ disseminated, and to all outside ap-
p%earances 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,
hat no other sheep could satisfy the
people. To add to the popularity of the
Saxony sheep the wool was worth from
So to 50. 80 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
the focks had been lessened i'll vigOr.
1t was not difficult to care for high
priced sheep, whose fieeces brought 81
or s. each, but when the bottom fell out
and values went down the t1ocks went
to destruction.
LII l1c 1lGitllU1II1t l11o CdAOIy SIltCD
had a few friends in Washington cOun-
ty, Pa, i'll contiguous parts of West
Virginia and on the opposite side Of the
river i'll Ohio. These gentlemen We're
we'll 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 We're scarcely more
than l, 100 of this breed entitled to a
place in the book Of record "The aim
has been to breed a large, we'll 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 Il society is not
to get up a BOOM, to use the favOrite
expression of the day, in order that
prices of stock may he inflated above
value, but our design is to preserve our
blood pure that we may continue to i'm
prove and go on as mean to perfection as
possible" 1t was a matter of surprise
and regret that this breed not *
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
II extending evenly over the whole
body" would have been of no ordinary
interest to visitors. especially the for
quaint Old Time Will.
r. w. Amsden, a BrOcktOn police
officer, has in his possession a printed
copy of the will Of Joseph Porter, made
in East Stoughton (now Avon) on Feb.
Is, 1902. Mr.. Porter was born in 1880
and died in 1903. The most interesting
part of the will is that relating to what
he left his wife, Elizabeth, as follows:
The easterly end or half of my new
dwelling house, and so much Of the eel
lar as is necessary for her use; also one
half Of the buttery in the other part of
the house, and the privilege of the oven,
we'll, dOOryard, etc, during her natural
life; also the improvement Of one good
COW, which is to be kept OF my farm
for her use during her natural life; also
one good yearling hog, we'll fatted, year
ly, and nine bushels of Indian corn and
three bushels of rye, a suficiency of
wood to keep n FIRE, cut up fit for the
HEARTH, etc.
To his son Joseph he gave, with other
property, my horse for the purpose o.
helping his mother to meeting on the
Lords day as often as she is able and
inclined. "-BOStOn Globe.