1852 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
281 
Silesian Merino Sheep. 
Eds. Cultivator — I send you a cut of agroup of Sile¬ 
sian Merino Ewes, which represents them exactly in the 
same position that they were taken from a daguerreotype 
view, as they were standing in an open yard; consequent¬ 
ly they do not show all of their good points—still enough 
are seen to enable one to judge of the character of the 
sheep. Wm. R. Sanford, Esq., of Orwell, Yt., with 
whom I traveled through France, Spain, and the Ger¬ 
man states, for the purpose of procuring Merino sheep, 
gave a cut of one from this flock, which was published 
in the July number of the Cultivator, 1851. 
The original stock of these sheep were from Spain in 
1811, and since that time have been the property of a 
Silesian gentleman, who possessed all the necessary quali¬ 
fications for a successful sheep breeder. They are about 
medium size, well formed, and have every appearance of 
being a hardy animal, often attaining a great age, one of 
which lived to be 21 years old. 
The superiority of these sheep over other Merinos, is 
in the fleece, which, as to quality, will compare well with 
many Saxon flocks. It is very thick, remarkably so on 
the belly and legs, and as to evenness of fleece they have 
no rivals. 
The length of staple is somewhat shorter than many 
other Merinos, and yet they yield a heavy fleece. Their 
wool is crimpy, and has a sufficient quantity of clear 
white oil to form a dark surface, which is beneficial to 
the wool, and partly protects them from storms. These 
sheep, I feel confident, will prove very acceptable to those 
farmers who wish to grow a fine grade of wool and a 
heavy fleece. 
It is supposed by a large portion of wool growers of 
the country, that in proportion as the wool grows finer, 
the fleece becomes lighter. But I have long been of a 
different opinion, and my experience for the last few 
years has led me to believe that, as much at least of fine 
wool can be grown from the same amount of keeping as 
that of the coarser grades. I have no hesitancy in say. 
ing that one hundred or one thousand pounds of fin* 
Merino wool can be produced at a less cost than an equal 
amount of any inferior quality. 
These sheep cross well with the common Merinos of 
the country. In several instances, where I let the use 
of bucks, in flocks that are smooth skinned, the lambs from 
the Silesian rams were wrinkled from their ears to the 
end of their tails, and will no doubt add much to the 
quantity as well as to the quality of the wool. 
Last year our Silesian ewes sheared an average of 7 lbs. 
10 oz. in the dirt, of only 10 months growth. Thisyear, 
in order to more thoroughly test their true value, I have 
been induced to wash them. They were first well soaked, 
then after standing in the sun an hour or more, were 
taken into the water, under a spout having a good 
fall, and washed until the dark ends disappeared, and 
the water run from the wool looking perfectly clear. Af¬ 
ter suckling lambs from January to May, which would 
lessen the fleece from one to two pounds each, and cleans¬ 
ing in the above manner, they gave an average of 4 lbs. 
oz. per head. 
Our bucks of this variety, sheared last year from 7-§ 
to 10£ lbs. per head. This year they have not been shorn. 
I hope that other wool growers will express their views 
on the subject, through the columns of the Cultivator. 
If fine wool can be produced at the same cost as that of 
a coarse quality, I am sure that every one would prefer 
to grow it. Geo. Campbell. West Westminster , Vt., 
July 5, 1852. 
Corn and Weeds. —A correspondent of the Michi¬ 
gan Farmer allowed the weeds to have as good a chance 
at his manure and rich land, as his corn, consequently he 
had only 40 bushels of ears to the acre. Next year he 
plowed well, and kept the weeds down by diligent culti¬ 
vation, and had 53 bushels of shelled corn from his yel¬ 
low eight-rowed, and 70 bushels from his dent corn, per 
acre. 
