,1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



273 



'^•V\"^g^^?3^fe4' 



SPANISH MERINO EWES. 



We have been favored by Geo. Campbell, Esq., 

 of West Westminster, Vt., with a group of his 

 beautiful sheep, which we take pleasure in laying 

 before the reader. The raising of wool, to say no- 

 thing of the good mutton, has got to be an impor- 

 tant branch of business in various portions of the 

 country. The abundance and cheapness of cotton 

 cloth are among the rich blessings of our exist- 

 ence. It is a great civilizer. And now wool, in 

 various shapes, is becoming common among all 

 classes of our people. In the way of coarse car- 

 peting, its use is a matter of economy witli the 

 poor ; it is manufactured into soft, light and very 

 warm waddings, and in the sleighs and carriages, 

 is taking the place of the buffalo robes. It is al- 

 so made into under-shirts, and in our variable cli- 

 mate, is conducive to health. 



But Mr. Campbell will explain the group him- 

 self. 



The group of ewes, of which I send you a cut, 

 is of my old Spanish stock, which are pure de- 

 scendants from the importations of Jarvis and 

 Humphrey. They are of fair size and well propor- 

 tioned, with thick, long, fine wool, which is suffi- 

 ciently oily to produce a natural dark surface.— 

 According to their size, they produce more wool 

 than the French Merinos. 



The whole flock of this breed sheared an aver-i 



age of 5i lbs. of well washed wool last season, 

 which was sold at 52i cts. per. lb. I have just 

 sheared my two year old ewes of this stock, with- 

 out washing. Their fleeces of only eleven months 

 growth, average a trifle over 8 lbs. Many of them 

 are as white, and appear to be almost as clean, as 

 washed wool. 



Their wool will compare, as to quality, with 

 any Merinos in Vermont, the Siberians excepted. 

 I do not hesitate to give it as my opinion, that 

 more fine wool can be grown from the same amount 

 of keeping, than of the coarser grades. 



Many of the sheep in the country called Meri- 

 nos, are not worthy of the appellation, and those 

 wishing to purchase a pure article cannot be too 

 cautious of whom they purchase. 



Geo. Campbell. 



West Westminster, April 18, 1853. 



Grafting Cloth. — We have been using the past 

 week the grafting cloth recommended last year by 

 Col. Little, of Bangor, and find it a most admira- 

 ble article for grafting or covering wounds made by 

 pruning. It is easily made and very convenient. 



6 lbs. beeswax. 

 1 lb. rosin. 

 1 pint linseed oil. 

 This quantity, spread evenly on cotton cloth, 

 would be sufficient for several farms for the year. 



