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to 100 per cent above the usual prices, caused mostly by the severe drought of last season.

Swine. Most of the breeds in the States (except the western pointer) have been introduced here within the last thirty years, and crossed and mixed in every way, so that no one breed, or a cross between two, is distinct. There is a kind now in favor, called the Belgo, undoubtedly a cross of other breeds, that is a well built and well proportioned animal; and it is my opinion that our farmers' swine are equal to those of any other community.

Respectfully, yours,

H. W. LESTER.

Hon. S. H. HODGES,

Commissioner of Patents.

SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT,
December 28, 1852.

SIR: In reply to the Circular of the Patent Office, received last August, I shall confine my remarks to one inquiry-that of "sheep and wool," having in recent numbers of the Reports gone somewhat into detail in answering these inquiries, so far as Vermont is concerned, in my ordinary manner, according with my judgment and experience.

Wool-growing is profitable here whenever the price does not fall below 40 cents per pound; yet the amount of profit depends greatly upon the perfection of the flock for wool growing purposes, the skill and management of the grower, and the adaptation of the constitution of the animal to our climate. It costs as much to grow a pound of coarse wool as it does of fine Merino, though the carcass of the coarse-woolled sheep may be turned to better account for mutton; but on the whole the kind of sheep which will afford the most profit in the hands of a judicious and an experienced farmer is the thick, close, compact fleeced Spanish Merino. This is a docile and hardy race, producing as much fine wool for a given amount of feed as any other kinds; and the wethers or castrated males, at four and five years old, either from the pasture in the autumn or from the stalls in the winter and spring, are not slow for mutton purposes. This breed of sheep is comparatively small, and by a law of nature which cannot be set at naught, will consume no more food in proportion to their weight than the larger breeds, though they carry a much heavier fleece proportionably than the coarse or long-woolled kinds; with ordinary care, three-fourths as many lambs as ewes in the flock, designed for breeding, can be annually reared, and with extra care and attention the number can be increased up to a lamb for each ewe, though it should be an undeviating rule not to allow ewes to yean until they are three years old; having then attained size, strength, and vigor, they will impart this essential-a good constitution-to their young provided the sire be right; and here let me say that too much care cannot be taken in selecting the sire; a careful discrimination should be exercised, and none should be used but such as are perfect in fleece, both as to quantity and quality, also in form, strength, and vigor, as can be found in the best Merino

flocks of our country. Betwixt the sire and dam no relationship or affinity of blood should be suffered to exist; it tends to weaken the constitution, engenders deformities, and reduces the weight of fleece. A renewal of blood every three or four years, by an exchange of bucks from one good flock to another, is a great desideratum in progressing and improving with a high-bred flock. The keeping both summer and winter should be generous and uniform, not sufficient to produce a high degree of flesh unless the animal is designed for the butcher, but in a fair stock condition, conducive to health and to the uniformity of the staple of the fleece. In the winter season in this locality, and in all high latitudes, the Merinos should be kept in flocks not exceeding 150 in number, in enclosed yards with open sheds, having a southern or eastern exposure, with access to running water within the enclosure if possible; a box always supplied with clean pure salt, racks for feeding hay, and the sheds. kept littered with straw for a bed. The quantity of hay per diem depends upon the quality, as the waste is less as the quality is better; two and a half pounds per day for each full-grown sheep, or two pounds for lambs or yearlings, is sufficient of good hay; or, what is better, two pounds per day, with a gill of corn or a half pint of oats, per head. Oats are better than corn for young sheep; both should be fed with care at first, or it may produce the scours and kill the animal.

I am aware that all sheep owners and wool growers will not adopt my opinion as to the most profitable kinds. I have come to the conclusion, that the small sheep of the race I have described are the most profitable. In addition to the large coarse woolled kinds, we have in this country the Saxon, French, and Prussian Merinos, which have originated from the Spanish; all these fine-woolled races possess a common origin, and it only shows what the workings of nature are when assisted by art. The Saxon desired the perfection of the fleece in fineness of texture. The Frenchman took the opposite extreme, and sought quantity of fleece: both attained their object. But in so doing, one weakened the constitution, and reduced the weight of fleece and growth of the animal; the other enlarged the growth of both animal and fleece, but, as a natural result, which could not be avoided, suffered a deterioration in the quality of the fleece. The Prussians, like many of us Americans, seem to have taken the middle ground, and have sought only to improve upon the original stock, so far as it could be done without detriment to quantity, quality, or vigor of bone and muscle. I have seen some fine specimens of all these races, and it yet remains to be determined whether an improvement may not be made by a cross one with another, or a mixture of all the races. I speak as regards this section only; to some localities the coarse mutton-sheep may be best adapted; and to others, the French and Saxon Merinos. Sheep husbandry has been a vast source of profit to Vermont, and will continue to be, unless the raw ma terial should cease to be wanted, by a suspension of the woollen business in this country.

I notice a striking fact in the last Census report, in relation to the average weight of fleeces throughout the United States, for 1850. Vermont stands at the head of the list, giving an average weight of near 34 pounds per head on her one million of sheep; while the aggregate of the whole is less than 2 pounds.

Another fact speaks well for her sheep-husbandry. By a reference to the weekly reports of the Boston live stock market, it may be seen that Vermont sends more sheep to that market than all the other New England States; and the same remark will apply to horses and cattle. Limited as her boundaries are, small in area, with an uneven and broken surface, and sparse population, she may well be proud of her position as an agricultural producing State. Nothing short of the skill, industry, enterprise, untiring energy, and intelligence of her people, could have made her what she is. None of her sons, if they would but think so, need seek the mines of California, the valleys of Oregon, or the fertile regions of the West, to acquire a competency.

Respectfully, yours,

Hon. SILAS H. HODGES,

Commissioner of Patents.

J. W. COLBURN.

MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT,
December 22, 1852.

SIR: In the spring of 1851 I made a visit to France, for the express purpose of a thorough examination of the best Merino sheep of that country. I was much interested in the government flock at Rambouillet. Every department was conducted with great skill and attention, by competent shepherds, who devoted their whole time in the feeding and management of the flocks. A doctor, even, is supported by the government to administer to their physical wants-one well skilled in the anatomy of animals.

The sheep are all numbered and registered in a book for that purpose, by the Director, so that the pedigree of every animal can be traced for several generations, giving the age of each sheep to a day, of the birth and death, and to whom sold, with the price and the quantity of wool shorn each year.

The ewes are numbered, by cutting notches in the ears, and the rams are marked upon the horns with hot irons, upon which the numbers are engraved. This flock has remained at Rambouillet since 1786. No sheep can be purchased from this flock, except at the annual public sale, which takes place in April or May each year-always on Sunday. Such animals as are considered not worthy to be preserved for breeders are consigned to the butcher.

Their lambs are allowed to drop in January; the rams, at one year old, are crowded to the highest point of fatness, to prepare them for the sale. The average live weight, as registered upon the books, of 50 rams, at 15 months old, was 185 pounds.

There are two or three private flocks in France, of equal purity of blood, which are superior in size to those of Rambouillet. These descended from another branch of the government flock, that started at Croissy, near Paris, at the same time, being one half of the original flock; presented by the Queen of Spain to the King of France. Jean Baptiste François Gilbert, of Vidderville, purchased at the first sale of

the produce of this flock, which took place at Croissy, in 1800, one ram and eight ewes. The ram was four years old, and weighed 125 pounds, and carried 12 pounds of wool. The ewes then averaged 9 pounds of wool in its pure, unwashed state. Mr. Gilbert was the principal purchaser at the annual sales till 1818, when the whole flock at Croissy was sold, at an average price of from 120 to 300 francs each. The blood of Mr. Gilbert's flock was renewed every few years by a selection of rams from the flock at Rambouillet. This, together with the occa sional renewal of blood and superior skill in breeding, gave Mr. Gilbert's flock the advantage over the others.

After becoming fully convinced that the private flocks were superior to any other of the fine woolled breeds, for size, symmetry, for the greatest production of superior wool, and for their propensity to put on fat, I resolved to make my purchases there.

There are three or four extraordinary flocks, which have attained their present popularity and perfection by the long-continued patience and skill of the breeders, who have, by degrees, reared them up to their present excellence, from the puny Spanish race as they stood in 1785, among the best flocks in Spain.

These successful breeders did not allow their ewes to drop their lambs until three years old, nor to use rams until they arrived at full maturity; selecting only those of the largest size and most perfect in their points, combining a superior quality of wool, as well as a great weight of fleece. It was by this method, faithfully carried out, that they could produce rams, at 18 months old, to weigh 225 pounds, and to impart to the several succeeding generations all that constitute a perfect Merino sheep. They are well fed the year round upon such hay, grasses, vegetables, and grain as would tend to produce the greatest amount of muscle, bone, and flesh; housing them through the winter in warm but ventilated stone barns; and careful to fold them at night and during te dious storms.

Many of the rams, at maturity, will weigh from 250 to 300 pounds, and estimated to shear from 18 to 28 pounds of wool at one clip.

It is from these most celebrated private flocks that I have made my selections, and imported, during the last two years, near six hundred, at great cost, preferring those animals that would produce the heaviest fleece of the finest quantity of Merino wool; making a voyage each year to select and to see to the shipments, at a cost which will not fall short of $50,000. I am at present an owner in the whole of, or a part interest in, about 500 ewes, old and young, and am supplying rams to be shipped into all ports of the United States.

A cross of these French Merinos upon the common flocks of our country, has been fully tested. The half bloods are not only improved in size and constitution, but the annual production of wool is increased from one to three pounds to each sheep; and in many flocks the quality is improved in fineness and length of staple.

My recent sales of unwashed wool have varied from thirty three to thirty-five cents per pound. Washed fleece or pulled wool, of this quality, at present readily commands from 52 to 58 cents per pound.

Half blood wethers, at full maturity, must command from $8 to $15

per head, in a favorable market, by the lot.

Our minister at Paris, Hon. William C. Rives, is collecting statistical

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information, visiting the different departments in France, to better enable him to give us a correct history of the agricultural interest of that country, including the best breeds of horses, cattle, and sheep. Such facts as may be of interest to us will be published in a book soon to be issued. Respectfully,

S. WRIGHT JEWETT.

CHESTER, WINDSOR COUNTY, VT.,
December 30, 1852.

DEAR SIR: Mr. Whitcomb (postmaster) has lately handed me your Circular of August, ultimo, requesting me to answer some of the inqui ries made therein. I fear but very few persons will be benefited by the trifling amount of my experience.

Wheat.-Wheat is raised in small quantities in this section of country, and comparatively by very few farmers. When raised at all, it is raised upon high lands, much exposed to strong northwest winds. If sown upon our meadows or lowlands early enough to escape the rust, which is sure to strike late sown, the weevil will destroy it; and if sown late enough to escape the weevil, the rust will injure, if not destroy it.

Indian corn may well be said to be our great staple, whether considered as forage for stock or food for mankind. It requires much labor to cultivate it aright, and much manure to insure good crops; but I think it generally pays well for interest. The best method, according to my experience of cultivating, is to plough, deep and well, two or three times before planting, spread manure freely, and furrow in rows, each way, about three feet apart-I am well satisfied that corn will ear much better at that distance than when nearer; manure in the hill, with wellrotted or hog manure, (though, I doubt not, in very dry seasons it would be less likely to sustain damage by drought if the manure was all spread;) plant deep enough to prevent the corn from drying after it sprouts. Much labor is frequently lost by persons slighting in the process of covering the seed. As soon as the corn is large enough to be seen in rows, cultivate each way with a good cultivator, and then the labor of clearing the weeds from the hills is very slight. Keep the ground as nearly level as possible, without raising the hill even at the third hoeing. Never hoe after the tassel is in blossom. I do not use a plough in my corn-field after planting. My practice, for the last five years, has been to put 2 or 3 table spoonfuls of tar and a small handful of salt into one gallon of water, boiling hot, into which I put four quarts of seedcorn, (selected from the field as soon as the husks begin to turn,) stir briskly about two minutes, then drain off the water and stir in as much plaster as will stick to the kernel, when it is ready for immediate planting. Care should be taken not to let it stond too long after this process before planting; if it becomes much dried it will not sprout so quick. I am not troubled at all with crows pulling it up; do not use any scare crows." In the spring of 1849 I planted a field of corn, prepared according to the above directions, excepting four rows upon one side of it. The crows pulled almost every hill of the four rows of unprepared,

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