Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-11-02
SHEEP INDUSTRY
TO BE REVIVED
Expert in Brattleboro Outlines
Vermont Conditions
Opportunity for Eastern Farmers-J.
A. Sturtevant Visits Principal Sheep
Raising Sections.

If plans of the United States depart
ment of agriculture do not miscarry, the
pasture lands of Vermont some day will
be grazed by multitudcs of sheep as they
were - years ago A beginning already
has been made in that direction. and one
of the tangible evidences of that fact
has been the presence in Windham
county of a sheep expert sent by the
government to interest those who have
facilities for raising sheep to make
that q part of their regular business.
j. A. Sturtevant came here last Mon
day and was taken to Wilmington by
County Agent A. W. Swecton A few
days ago he was in Westminster West.
and had the weather been propitiouS he
and Mr.. Swecton would have gone to Bel
lows Falls Tuesday. Those three sections
of Windham county are the most active
in the county in the sheep industry.
In Wilmington Mr. Sturtcvant met at
the home of Forrest Boyd Il number of
farmers interested in sheep raising. out
lined what the government has in mind
made a survey of the conditions there
and urged the farmers to enter into the
industry more extensively. He is one of
five experts sent out by the government
TO the sheep raising sections of the coun-
try, and his territory is New Hampshire
and Vermont. He has covered New
Hampshire and is now making tour of
this state 1t is probable that the govern
mcnt will keep man in this territory
three years or more. The Vermont Agri-
cultural Extension service is cooperating
TO some extent
The high point in sheep raising in Yer
mont was reached in 1910, when the cen
sus reports showed about l,G00,000 sheep
in the state. They were largely Mcrinos
The government estimates for the past
two years place the number at 100000,
but the listers returns show less than
half that number, or about $4,000. In
Windham county there are less than
1000, but the number has begun to in
crease. The New Hampshire survey
shows about 10000
There were several reasons for the
decline, one being the competition of
the great western areas and anoth-
cr being that the value of mutton was
not emphasized as it is today. The
grazing areas of the West are becom-
ing more and more restricted. and one
of the results is to enhance the value
of sheep and enlarge the opportunity of
the farmers of the East. The move
mcnt was begun before the war broke
out, but the war has increased the de
mand for meat, so there is now the OPP
portunity to do a patriotic duty as well
as lay the foundation for a profitable
business.
Most of the sheep now raised in Yer
mont are of-the.Slir0pshiHe breed. The
breed. is run down at present through
the use of rams that arc not of the
I.,,1 a,,@ ,.,lys
the Shropshires are as good as any
dual purpose breed, and it is for both
mutton and wool that the Vermont
farmer should strive.
Breeding stock is high, and the gov
eminent is urging the farmers to save
their best breeding stock and their eve
lambs so as to build up their hocks
without going to large expense. They
are urged to make sheep raising part
of their regular live stock farm work,
as sheep require less labor and grain
than dairy cows.
When asked as to the dog menace
Mr.. Sturtevant replied that it was more
mythical than actual, although he said
it existed to degree not to be laughed
at. Some damage is done by dogs in
the DAYTIME, but most of the damage is
done AT nlght. II Is not pfactlcaDlc 10
undertake to build fences in Vermont
that would he dog proof, but it would
be an easy matter for the majority of
sheep raisers to build corrals near their
barns that would be dog proof and to
get the sheep up every night when the
cattle herds were driven in. Mr.. Sturte
want said the Vermont laws i'll general
regarding sheep were good, but that
they were faulty in respect to the mat
ter of damages.
A conference of persons interested il
the sheep industry will be held III
Boston Friday of this week, and Mr.
Sturtevant intends to attend that
meeting. One of those present will be
T. r. Marshall, head of the sheep in
Vestigation work of the United States
department of agriculture.