328 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
MERINO BUCK “DON HARDY.”—(Fig. 39.) 
DESULTORY SKETCHES OF SHEEP HUSBANDRY 
IN MAINE.—No. I. 
Mr. Editor —Little was done in regard to the rearing 
of sheep in Maine, except a few of the common breeds, 
kept by some farmers for mutton, and to supply what 
wool was needed for household manufacture, until ihe 
war between England and the United States, which took 
place in 1812. 
It was, however, early discovered that the climate, 
though rigorous in the winter, was nevertheless favora¬ 
ble to the breeding and multiplying this useful animal. 
The war of 1812 brought about a radical change in this 
branch of farm industry among us; and I have sometimes 
thought that setting aside the misery and aggravated 
wretchedness which war always produces, if no ofher be¬ 
nefit was derived from the struggle, the impulse given to 
wool-growing, and the more general introduction of Me¬ 
rino sheep throughout the country, together with the im¬ 
provement of manufactures, was an ample equivalent for 
all the treasures expended. The total prohibition of the 
importation of English manufactures which it effected, 
brought about in the short space of three years, more 
changes in favor of our then infant manufactures, and 
discovered to ourselves more resources, both natural and 
mental, than could have been accomplished by any other 
means. It is true that a speculating mania in Merino 
sheep, which sprung up about that time proved some¬ 
what disastrous to many who were lured into it more by 
the hope of realising a fortune by the rise of prices than 
from any desire of the multiplying of flocks. But this 
was only one of the evils which often attends the intro¬ 
duction of valuable improvements, when the true objects 
are perverted. Those who purchased at high prices, 
with a view of going into the business as a permanent 
pursuit, ultimately realized a profit from the investment, 
and many are still reaping the benefit of their purchases. 
A friend of ours gave forty dollars for a buck lamb that 
had just been dropped, brought it home and reared it as a 
cosset. It made a noble sire of a noble flock. A farm¬ 
er, who now has an excellent flock of fine wooled sheep, 
told us that he began by giving one hundred dollars for an 
old sheep that had hardly a tooth in her head, but she 
lived, by extra care, long enough to lay the foundation 
of an excellent flock, which has been a source of profit 
to him for many years. 
As early as 1813, a few farmers in Winthrop, among 
whom were Messrs. S. & E. Wood, Mr. Pullen and Dr. 
Snell, met together to discuss the question of the intro¬ 
duction of Merino sheep into Maine. There were but 
two questions to settle. 
st. Will the climate suit them ? 
2d. Will it be a profitable investment ? 
After a careful deliberation, they concluded to try the 
experiment, and accordingly made, what at that day was 
considered a large purchase from the flock of Consul Jar¬ 
vis, who had then recently settled in Weathersfield, Vt. 
The first purchase was made in 1813, and consisted of 
forty lambs, for which they paid twelve dollars and a half 
per head. The next purchase was made in 1814, and 
consisted of forty lambs, for which they paid twenty-five 
dollars per head, and the next purchase was made in 
1815, and consisted likewise of forty lamb?', for which 
they paid fifty dollars per head, showing a pretty steady 
increase of prices. Wool at this time, of the quality 
which these sheep afforded, brought two dollars per lb. 
The increase of the flocks, and the peace of 1815, put an 
end to the high prices; and many, who, as I before said, 
had entered into the business merely for the purposes of 
speculation, gave up the pursuit, and after cursing the 
harmless Merino as the cause of their misfortunes, turned 
their attention to other business. 
The enterprise and example of Mr. Jarvis, was not lost 
upon those whom we have mentioned. His and their 
experiments, demonstrated the fact, that the climate of 
north New-England was suitable for the cultivation of 
fine wooled sheep. 
The cold, but dry and bracing air of our winters, is 
found much more congenial to the Merino, than the more 
open and changeable winters further south; and it is pro¬ 
ved by actual experience that they do vastly better in dry, 
cold, than in a wet or rainy climate. 
This was peculiarly illustrated here during the last 
winter, which, for a part of its term, was unparalleled 
for the severity of its cold—the thermometer sometimes 
ranging as low as 37 deg. below zero. It was compara¬ 
tively a dry winter, the storms being principally snow¬ 
storms, and there fell but little rain. In the spring, the 
snow went off gradually by the heat of the sun. Not¬ 
withstanding the severity of the winter, sheep, and espe¬ 
cially the Merino, seldom have done better. We noticed 
very particularly the several flocks which we passed in 
our drives about the country in the spring, and were for¬ 
cibly struck with their general health and good condition. 
The winters of 1829 30-31, were what might, with pro¬ 
priety, be called open winters. Much rain fell during 
those seasons, and the mortality among the sheep is too 
well remembered by many of our farmers. Several of 
our acquaintances, discouraged by their losses, gave up 
the wool-growing business entirely. 
Allow me to say here, by way of digression, that I 
think our brethren of Illinois, who are just entering so 
zealously into the wool-growing enterprise, will find 
their open rainy winters the greatest enemy to the flocks 
