280 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
FULL BLOOD MERINO BUCK, CONSUL—(Fig. 86.) 
Owned by W. R. Sanford, Esq., Orwell, Vermont. 
In reference to the portrait above given, Mr. Sanford 
says, “ it represents a buck which I own, nine years old, 
bought when a lamb, of Hon. Wm. Jarvis of Weathers- 
field, Vermont, by a distinguished wool grower in this 
vicinity. His average annual weight of fleece is ten 
pounds. The weight of his body three years ago, was 
164 lbs. I weighed him again about the middle of last 
April, and his weight was 156 pounds. His stock proves 
very superior, possessing all those qualities that I presume 
every wool grower is aiming at, viz. good thickness of 
fleece, very fine and soft. In 1829 I purchased of 
Messrs. Grant and Jennison of Walpole, N. H., twenty 
old full blood merino ewes, which were purchased by 
them when lambs, of Hon. Mr. Jarvis, and warranted 
full blood. These I have kept distinct and pure, and from. 
them have reared a flock that the ewes yield an average 
of four pounds and over to the fleece, of clean handsome 
wool. Messrs. Grant and Jennison bought these sheep 
of Mr. Jarvis, before the Saxony sheep were introduced 
into the country—they were of course pure, and since I 
have had them, I have taken a good deal of pains and 
trouble to keep them so. I have purchased three 
superior bucks from Mr. Jarvis’s flock, and by using 
them and those of my own rearing, have kept them 
pure.” 
Accompanying the drawing, we received from Mr. 
Sanford some thirty samples of wool from his flock. 
They are of long staple, soft, and free from gum, and of 
good quality. We should be pleased to show the sam¬ 
ples to those who wish to look at them. 
MR. AVERY’S SHEEP. 
Messrs. Editors —Agreeably to promise, I send you 
a drawing* of one of my improved Paular Merino ewes. 
She was well washed and sheared on the 25th day of 
June, when her fleece was just one year and two days 
growth, in the presence of several gentlemen, among 
whom were Hon. Lewis Stone, Jesse H. Mead and Wm. 
B. Knox, Esqs. Her fleece was weighed by one of the 
above named gentlemen, and weighed 7 lbs. 3 ounces. 
Her live weight is about 120 lbs., having a lamb by her 
side, about 5 weeks old, at the time she was weighed and 
shorn. 
In the Sept, number of the Cultivator, 1843,1 gave the 
results of an experiment made with my flock, to ascertain 
the best feed to produce wool. An extract from that 
communication, appeared also on the 17th page of the 
Cultivator Almanac for 1844. At its close, I expressed 
my intention to renew my experiments another year. I 
have done so; dividing my flock into lots of as nearly 
equal goodness as possible. The kinds of feed are, as 
the year before, viz: 
Lot 1. Corn,... 2 quarts to 32 sheep. 
“ 2. Corn and oats,. 3 cc « 
<( 3. Oats,. 4 « '« 
<( 4. Cracked corn in cob, 4 “ {S 
The result is, that those fed on cracked corn, have gi¬ 
ven 1^ ounces more wool per head, than either other lot. 
Those fed on corn and oats, about 1 ounce more than those 
fed on oats alone. Lots No. 1 and 3 gave about equal 
quantities. 
The whole flock, consisting of 98 ewes, (35 of which 
are yearlings,) and 6 young bucks, gave an average of a 
fraction over 5$ lbs.; which, at 45 cents, the price ob¬ 
tained for it this year, is, as you will perceive, $2,36 per 
fleece. In addition to this, I have from my 63 ewes, 
* We are under the necessity of omitting the drawing.— Eds. 
which are over one year old last spring, 63 fine lambs, 
nearly 40 of which are bucks. 
It would be folly to say that my sheep are not well ta¬ 
ken care of; but I certainly do not think them extrava¬ 
gantly fed. 
I have been particular in laying these experiments and 
their results, before the public, to show how they have 
been fed, and what kind of food has succeeded best; that 
wool-growers, and especially those who are just com¬ 
mencing, may see the advantage of proper care, with the 
right kind of sheep. 
In reference to the wool from my Paular flock, the 
statements given below from the two gentlemen who 
have manufactured, either the whole clip, or apart of it, 
for three successive years, will speak for itself. 
“ I manufactured the wool taken from the flock of Pau¬ 
lar Merino sheep, owned by Mr. Avery of Galway, Sar¬ 
atoga County, in the years 1841 and 1842. I found the 
average weight of fleece, in those years, to be about 5| 
libs., well washed, and free from tags. The heaviest 
(fleece was about 12f lbs. This wool is free from jar, 
(hair,) a beautiful soft staple of great length; becomes 
the purest white when scoured, retaining its mellow, oily 
touch, and its felting properties are excellent. 
July 29, 1844. Henry Pauling.” 
“ I hereby certify that I manufactured for Mr. Avery 
of Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y., a part of the wool 
taken from his flock of Paular Merino sheep, in 1843. 
He brought me 20 fleeces, well washed, free from filth 
and tags, which weighed 111 lbs. I find this wool frep 
from jar, a fine soft staple, of extraordinary length; and 
its felting properties are of the first order. 
Milton, July 16, 1844. Jos. Riggs.” 
I will only say further, that the 20 fleeces taken to Mr 
Riggs, were a trifle heavier than the flock would ave 
rage, which was 5 lbs. 5 ounces per fleece. 
Respectfully yours, R. A. Avery. 
Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., July 29, 1844. 
