1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



495 



worthy of attention of Vermont farmers, whether [ and that some of the most profitable Vermont 

 they cannot profitably increase the production of : flocks show a small amount of oil. He has sheared 

 mutton sheep. According to information given I bucks of this kind that gave 16 to 20 pounds of 

 us by Mr. Robinson, it is a profitable branch of I wool. 



farmino-. I Geo. Campbell, of Westminster West, thought 



Judge Colburn, of Springfield, Vt., thought if [ that much of the oil was made by feeding ; that 

 all wool-growers could be induced to adopt the i he could by that means make the same sheep show 

 rule not to wash sheep, it would be an advantage | more or less oil. He is sure that those that run 

 to the State. At present, the only discrimination j most to oil are of a weaker constitution than oth- 

 in buying, is to deduct one-fourth the price of i ers. He had travelled much in this country and 

 washed wool, if the same grade is unwashed. If Europe in pursuit of knowledge about sheep, and 



we ever adopt a rule to do away with washing, we 

 shall get rid of very unpleasant, and some think 

 unhealthy work. 



A gentleman from Western New York said 



is satisfied that Vermont has the best stock in the 

 world, better than Spain. He has tried all sorts, 

 and settled upon the Spanish merino as the most 

 profitable breed ; and he is also satisfied that it is 



that the disposition of manufacturers to buy un- ! not profitable to wash sheep, because by not doing 

 washed wool was largely increasing. He "knew it, he can shear early, say about May 1, and ])ro- 

 one who tried 5,000 pounds, year before last, as ; tect the sheep a few days, and tliey are not injured, 

 an experiment, which satisfied him so well, tliat he ' and he thus saves wool. When he used to wash, 

 bought 80,000 pounds last year. In his own ex- and turn out to pasture, much wool was lost upon 



perience he had proved that unwashed sheep win- 

 ter better than they do when washed and sheared 

 a mouth latei". 



A resolution was now introduced by some one, 

 and read by the Secretary, that it ia the sense of 



briers and bushes. 



He is sure that, one year with another, his clip 

 sells for more money unwashed than it would 

 washed, and he saves the labor and health of his 

 sheep. The wool clipped early looks better, and 



this convention that we should strive to produce ! often is better, than washed wool. Some buyers 

 wool, and not oil. This was evidently intended | think that heavy fleeces must be dirty ;^ and, to 



as a hit at those who run upon a strain of sheep 

 with very oily fleeces. The resolution was debat- 

 ed quite earnestly, and at first seemed likely to 

 pass, but in the end would have been almost unan- 

 mously voted down, if it had not been withdrawn. 

 So much for the advantage of discussion. 



Judge Colburn thought that although Ver- 

 mant has the best flocks in America, we are tend- 

 ing too strongly toward producing very oily 

 fleeces, which weakens the constitution of the 

 sheep. Some of the high-priced bucks sold to go 

 West, have two pounds of oil to one pound of 

 wool. 



Solon Robinson thought it all resolved into a 

 matter of dollars and cents. If it is more profita- 

 ble for a farmer to procure oily fleeces, he should 

 not vote for this resolution. It is not a point of 

 morality, but a point of interest, that he has to 

 settle, and he did not believe it was for the inter- 

 est of Vermont farmers to adopt the spirit of this 

 resolution. 



Mr. Marsh thought it was not good policy to 

 change our course of breeding, M'hile we find ready 

 sales for wool, and while the bucks that are most 

 oily, are sought after to cross upon Western na- 

 tive sheep. Farmers must look to their own in- 

 terest, and that will regulate the production of 

 oily wooled sheep. 



Daniel Kimball, of Clarendon, thought that 

 voting for this resolution would tend to hurt the 

 credit of Vermont sheep, as a sort of confession 

 that they were generally too oily. 



Mr. Lester, of Rutland, moved to lay the reso- 

 lution on the table, as it was useless to adopt it, 

 since farmers would raise such sheep as were most 

 profitable. 



Judge Colburn thought it would not be so 

 easy for farmers to sell their wool in peace times 

 as now, full of grease and dirt. 



Mr. Cdshing said that many breeders are now 

 satisfied that very oily sheep are not as profitable 

 as others that keep up the same fineness and 

 length of fibre, with just oil enough to protect it. 

 He is satisfied that very oily sheep tire not hardy. 



avoid this objection, he has divided and tied up 

 two to a sheep, and then they sold M'ithout any 

 objection. It is now ten years since he has prac- 

 ticed washing sheep. 



Mr. Gushing practices the same plan of divid- 

 ing heavy fleeces, and finds it works well. 



An old farmer present remarked that he had 

 learned something in this respect to pay him for 

 the trouble of attending this convention. 



It was unanimously voted to continue to hold 

 similar meetings at each State Fair, and that the 

 question discussed here, be earnestly considered 

 by all Vermont wool-growers. — S. R. in N. Y. 

 Tribune. 



Far the New England Farmer. 



KICHMOWD PRICE CURKEBTT FOR JULY. 



It may amuse your readers to look at the prices 

 of provisions, groceries, &c., in the city of Rich- 

 mond, in the month of July. When my informant 

 left, prices were still advancing. This statement 

 is entirely reliable, coming from a cousin who has 

 made his escape from that city, after serving as 

 clerk in a store the past year. He passed a week 

 at my house, and has come to the conclusion that 

 rebellion is expensive and terribly inconvenient. 



Fresh beef, lb 62^5 75 



Fn'sh pork None. 



Salt pork, lb $1,00 



Hams, lb $1,00 



Fresh and salt fish None. 



Cheese None. 



BuHer, lb $1,.')052,00 



Kggs, (loz $1,2.3 (jl,'iO 



Potatoes, bush .$16 



Cabbages, head $1,00 



Onions, each 2.5 



Bar soap, lb $1,60 



Starch None 



Salt, per sack, made in 



Va., and poor $90 



Milk, quart 2.5 



Boots, pair ^ §25 (T:.35 



Shoes, pair $15 §20 



Ladies' gaiters, pair $15 



Soft hats, each $16 



Dress coats $60 



Pants $20 



Cotton cards, pair $25 



Tea, lb $16 



Coffee, Ih $3,50@5,00 



Mustard , small can $5 



Brown sugar, lb $1,00 



Mo1a«ses, gal $6,00 



Candles, lb $2 00 



Morphine, oz $40 



Calomel, oz $2-5 



Quinine, oz $2) 



Atlantic sheeting, yd $1,50 



Prints, yd $l,00?il,25 



Heavy wool filling jeans, 



per yai'd $16 



Satinetts, cassimeres and 



woolen dress goods .... None. 

 Cnates' spool cutton,each $1,00 



Brooks & Clarke's, do 60 



Sewing silk, skein 30 



Linen braid, lb $9,00 



Powder, lb $8 



Revolvers, each $50 



Neto York, Sept. 12, 1862. 



P. 



