EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



309 



Anson, Me. The live weight of the animal was 132 pounds, and the 

 fleece was 28.4 per cent of the live weight. The ram yielding the fleece 

 holding the highest per cent to the live weight was of Vermont blood 

 and owned by S. Jewett, Independence, Mo. He weighed 100 pounds 

 and gave a fleece of 36 pounds 4 ounces, or 36.2 per cent of the live 

 weight. Of the 36 rams of this class 19 sheared 30 pounds and over. 



Twenty-eight rams, two years old, sheared 867 pounds, an average 

 per head of 28 pounds 14 ounces, and an average per cent of fleece to 

 carcass on those given of 25 per cent. The heaviest fleece was 39 

 pounds from a ram bred by J. J. Crane, of Bridport,Yt., and owned by S. 

 G. Crites, New Philadelphia, Ohio. The highest per cent of fleece to 

 live weight was reached by a ram weighing 81 pounds 8 ounces, who 

 gave 26 pounds of wool, or 31.9 per cent. 



Twenty yearling rams sheared 410 pounds 5 ounces, an average of 20 

 pounds 8 ounces, and an average per cent of fleece to carcass on those 

 given of 22.5. The greatest weight of fleece was 26.4 from a ram of 

 Vermont blood, bred and owned in Missouri. 



Fifty-four ewes, two years old and over, sheared 1,064 pounds 9 ounces, 

 an average of 19 pounds 11 ounces, and an average per cent of fleece 

 to carcass of 26. The greatest fleece weighed 25 pounds, shorn from 

 an ewe of Atwood blood, owned in Missouri. 



The Vermont Eegister for 1887 shows a continued improvement. 

 Notwithstanding the severe* and discouraging depression for wool- 

 growers and sheep breeders, well calculated to check improvement and 

 stimulation, Vermont breeders generally kept up their flocks and aimed 

 at a higher standard. The weights of 1882 were excelled. Of 52 rams 

 three years old and over, bred in Vermont, shearing 30 pounds or more, 

 4 exceeded the highest weight of 1882, 1 reaching 39 pounds; 35 of the 

 best sheared 1,221 pounds 13 ounces, averaging 34 pounds 14 ounces, 

 or 3 pounds 13 ounces more on the average than those shorn in 1882. 

 In the class of rams two years old, 29 bred in Vermont sheared 837 

 pounds 12 ounces, averaging 28 pounds 10 ounces, or 2 pounds 6 ounces 

 more than the average of the best 29 of 1882. In 1882 forty-six ewes, 

 bred in Vermont, averaged 19 pounds 6 ounces. A like number in 1887 

 sheared 980 pounds 8 ounces, averaging 21 pounds 5 ounces, or a gain 

 of only 1 ounce less than 2 pounds each. 



The shearing of 4 ewes and 3 rams of the flock of F. & L. E. Moore, 

 Addison County, Vt., in 1884, in addition to weight of carcass and fleece, 

 gives length of fiber and staple : 



