Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-08
AMERICAN MERINo SHEEP
Remarkable Breed Developed in Vermont
Sheep Brought Fabulous Prices in
Fiftes and Sixties.

Vermont has developed two of the dis
/ uhcuNe breeds OF domestic animals pro-
/ uuced IN America-the Morgan horse and
the American. or Vermont Merino. 1t is
rue the foundation stock of Vermont
| M'Ilnos was brought over from Snoin
! put the breed as bred by the Nermonters
/ Is no more like the original Snanisb
! Merlno than the highly bred Aberdeen
! Angus is like the "mooley' scrub of the
/ Pennsylvania backwoods
The original Spanish Merino Is opo Of
'lt Oldest OF the sheep breeds now ex
isting When the Saracens conquered
Northern Spain in the eighth century
history records that they found therein
many locks and looms, and IL is reason
nple To believe that the Merinos are the
l,ical descendants of the hne-wooIed
sheep' which Roman writer's described ne
( lore the dawn Of Christian civilization
II mas been written that Thomas Jef
lerson first introduced the Snanisb
Merlho IN this country. But however
inns may be, TO Col David Humphrey
must be given the credit of making tha
lHst important Importation of Merinos
to America MUS
On April 10, 1902. Col Humphrey made
Shipment of 100 sheep. consisting Of o.
a1IlS' ana 30 ewes, yearlings and tegs
/ hey We're taken to his farm at Derby
conn, and became the foundation stocl,
OF the lnfantadoes one of the loo,yins,
IdmlheS or the American Merinos col
humphrey kept these sheep carefnIIt,
separated from the other flocks. breeIinSy
tnem ln-and-in down to the period NJ
his death. In 1913 Stephen Atu,ooI %
Connecticut purchased of him ono go, Ti
blood eve for 1920, then considered re-
ihartable price for sheep. From, tbt.
beginning came the Atwood Merinos
one OF the most closely inbred and
saiIious Merino families in the DAYS when
Hhe-Wool sheep We're popular
consul William Jarvis NO.
extensive Of the early importers. He nroN
cured as early as 1909 POO NIerinos r.,
me Royal stocks of Spain, and In IT,
!ollowing year he purchased and sbinnaJ
80 IN. uils country 400 Spanish Merinos
OF the Paular flock, probably the 80
bred animal in Spain Mr.. Jarvis ~
ported in all $500 Merinos, which uaro
pastured on the Vermont farm. ana liz |
lhese sheep laid the foundation for tba |
tt'Is successful sheep breeding Industry |
thls country has ever known |
1t was by the Vermont breeders tbot a..
MieIlhoreached its highest perfection sae
lhe statement made frequently Tho. - |
Sclence or agriculture and animal bns
pahury was unknown before the DAYS %
IL rne asricultural college and the experi-
heht statonsi but these old time w.
mont farmers displayed such skill -
pIeeulhg OF the Merino sheen that a.
not familiar with the science of braed,rI -
they attained results which orr nresaIs.,
IiS1 eHperts are not able to excel. Nv
o oreeulls, FEEDING and selection, they in,
Saeased the weight OF the Merino f,eace
from eight to As pounds. ieece
90 IN I'm, me mites and sixties the breedlne,
OF Merino sheep was the chief indnstr,, l n
many vermont and New York farms III III
rs salu mat there were more than 1odo
breeders OF pure-bred Merinos 81 ioOV
time In Rutland and Addison oounti.s oie
=, neIIhoht' The Green Mountain statn
s men as now had a world wide renutatio'
Tor the superior quality of bar s'o
wooded sheep and all the leading w l,tI
gocl,s ing countries depended upon her
Hlsh bred Merinos brought feh,,io,
ps e,s IN those days. Bottom & BenaSio9
~ y. ohaItsbury, VT, in 1863 paid Ed,,i1
hammond of Middlebury. $1,000 for ru WI
Ewes ana In 1865 Mr., Hammond refused