USA > Vermont > Addison County > Statistical and historical account of the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 9
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But the soil of the County is best adapted to the production of grass and the raising of stock. And no County perhaps, in this or any other State can exhibit a finer or more abundant display of horses, cattle or sheep. It is the common opinion of farmers, that grass, grown on the clay or marl lands of the County, is much more nutricious, than that which is grown on lighter soils. The editor of the Albany Cultivator, in the number for July, 1845, after visiting Addison County, says : "Judging from appearances, it is our opinion, that we have never seen any other land, which is capable of sustaining as much stock to the acre." "Stock of all kinds will and do actually fatten on this hay. It is a fact that oxen bought in the fall, in only store condition, if properly sheltered and fed on this hay, become in the spring fit for slaughter, and are sent to Brighton market without any other feeding." For this reason, and because of the failure of the wheat crop, the farmers have, for the last twenty or thirty years, directed their attention to the raising of stock, and especially of sheep. One evil has resulted from this change in the agriculture of the County. The business of grazing requires large farms to satisfy the ambition of the enterprising ; and the large profits have enabled the more wealthy to crowd out the smaller land owners and send them to the west. The result has been, that, in several of the principal agricultural towns, the number of the farmers, and of course of the population has con- siderably diminished.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Instead of going into a detailed history of the transition from the former to the present branch of agriculture ; or the cause of the change, we take the liberty to quote several passages from an excellent "address delivered at the annual fair of the Addison County Agricultural Society, October 1st, 1844," by Hon. Silas II. Jenison, late governor, of the State, then a resident of Shore- ham, but since deceased. Ilo was a practical farmer and well acquainted with the subject.
Referring to the earliest history of agriculture in the County he says : " Among other products of the soil, it was found as favora- ble to the production of wheat as any other section of the country . then open to the agriculturist. Wheat consequently early became the staple product of the county." " Addison County became noted for the quantity and quality of the wheat. The whole force of the farm was directed to the increase of this crop." "During the third period of ten years, extending to .1820, the high price of wheat continued to influence the business of the farmer. Many fields had been by successive cropping. exhausted of their native fertility. Wheat, when sowed to the extent it had been raised for years before, became a less profitable crop. Farmers were awaking to the importance of manuring their old fields." And this conviction, Governor Jenison represents, was a reason that the farmers gave more attention to the raising of cattle for the purpose of providing manure for their wheat crops, and he adds :
" The number and quality of our cattle was increased and im- proved. With many farmers, the raising of cattle for market became the leading business. The cattle from the County began to be prized in market. and Addison became as noted for the excel- lence of its cattle, as for its wheat. The excellent grazing qualities of the soil were known and appreciated. Indeed, I have heard it remarked, that the butchers of Brighton could distinguish, by the appearance and feel. the fat cattle from this part of Vermont, from those in market from other places; and that cattle from this part of the State, of the same apparent flesh, had the preference with them, opening better, having a greater quantity of tallow and beef of superior quality and flavor."
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
" A circumstance, referable to this period, has had great influenes on the subsequent pursuits and prosperity of the farming interest of the County. Several individuals, awakened to the wants and capabilities of the country, by privations and embarrassments exnc- rienced during the interruption of our commerce with foreign countries before and during the war with Great Britain, did, at great expense, and incurring the penalty of all innovators-being laughed at by their neighbors-introduce into the County the Merino sheep. Among the foremost in this beneficent work, were Refine Weeks, Daniel Chipman, George Cleveland, and Horatio Seymour."
"During the next period of ten years, bringing us to 1880, the agriculture of the County appears to have been in a transition state." " While some of the farmers had, as a main business of the farm, embarked in rearing cattle, and others in increasing their sheep, many had not abandoned the idea, that wheat might still be a staple product of the County for exportation. They still per- sisted in the business, notwithstanding the increasing failures of the crop, caused by the exhaustion of the soil, ravages of the Hessian fly, spring killing, blight or rust. But in 1827 or 1823, an ene- my to the wheat crops appeared, which baffled all the efforts of the farmer to evade. The insect commonly, but improperly, called the weevil-that name belonging to an insect that preys on the wheat after it is fully ripened and harvested. The insect alluded to is a small, orange-colored maggot, and commits its depredations on the berry, while in the milky state, leaving the head and almost disap- pearing from the grain, when ripe. By a late writer in the Cul- tivator, it is called the wheat midge. As early as 1829, its rav- ages had increased so that, in some towns, in the County, scarcely a field escaped."
" When the wheat crop failed, those engaged in the business had to resort to some other brauch of farming. The tenacious quality of much of the soil of the County, forbid the cultivation of hoed crops, and . the raising of pork, as a substitute. I have before remarked, that the Merino sheep had been spread through the County with wonderful rapidity. Indeed, so rapidly was the char-
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
acter of the flocks changed, that as early as 1824, in many towns, a considerable flock of native sheep could not be found."
Of the raising of horses, as a department of agriculture, Gov. Jenison has not particularly treated. In what we have further to say, we propose to speak, separately of sheep, horses and cattle. And first of
SHEEP.
In the address from which we have so largely quoted, Governor Jenison says, "The increased prices obtained for wool, and the avidity with which it was sought in market, after the passage of the tariff act of 1828, pointed to that business as more lucrative than any other. . A majority of the farmers eagerly engaged in increasing their flocks of sheep. The result has been, that Addi- son County had in 1840, in proportion cither to territory or popula- .tion, a greater number of sheep, and produced more wool than any other county in the United States. To show the truth of this remark, I refer to facts drawn from the statistical tables ac- companying the census returns of 1810, and from other sources. There are nine States which had more than one sheep to each in- habitant, to-wit : Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine, Kentucky, Con- necticut and Ohio, with a portion more than one; New Hampshire and New York had about two and one-fourth, and Vermont had five and three-fourths to cach inhabitant. Should territory be regarded, Vermont will be found to have 185, New York 112, and New Hampshire 65 to the square mile."
" Addison County, when compared with the other counties in the State, will be found to have eleven and six-hundredths, Rut- land eight and eighty-five hundredths, Grand Isle seven and four hundredths, and Bennington six and nineteen hundredths to cach inhabitant. If territory be regarded, Addison has three hundred and seventy-three, Grand Isle three hundred and thirty-four, Rutland two hundred and eighty-three, Windsor two hundred and sixty-one, Orange two hundred and forty and Chittenden two hun- dred and twenty-one to a square mile." "This array of figures is no idle speculation. They represent facts, which show the immense
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
stake the farmers of Addison County possess in this branch of husbandry."
If we had the time and the resolution, we should like to draw a similar comparison from the census of 1850. But we have neither. In order, however, to give as good an idea as we are able, of what has been and is the amount of transactions in this department, we have collected from a few of the principal farmers, who are engaged in this business, some facts relating to their operations. The design of them all has been to improve their flocks, as well by breeding as purchasing, that they may be able to supply the market with the best wool and bost sheep-
Rollin J. Jones, Esa., of Cornwall, having decided in 1844, to engage in sheep husbandry, proccoded to make careful selections from several of the best pure blood Spanish Merino flocks in New England, in every instance paying for a first choice. In his first purchase, he expended about two thousand dollars. From these have been bred his present flock, and those he has sold of that breed. And his experience in breeding this class of sheep, has more and more confirmed him as to their value. Sales have been made of these in most of the New England, Middle and Western States. In many places, where they have been introduced, they have ob- tained premiums at State and County fairs over numerous compet- itors. In 1849, S. B. Rockwell, Esq., of the same place, now re- siding in Middlebury, became associated with him as a partner.
Mesers. Jones and Rockwell, since their connection, have been 'em- inently successful. In 1852, owing to repeated applications for French Sheep, which had been introduced into the country about six years before, they invested in the purchase of these sheep $2,200 ; a part of which included a first choice from the flock of Merrill Bingham. These sheep, they say, were the most perfect of the kind they had ever seen. In 1853, they purchased of Soloman W. Jewett, of Weybridge, one entire shipment of French Sheep, imported by him in April of that year. These purchases, with .some subsequently made, cost $18,000. For several years previous to the spring of 1855, when this information was communicated, their annual sales varied from eight to twelve thousand dollars. For
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
the eighteen months next preceding, they amounted to $50,000. They have been in the practice, as many of the principal dealers have been, of taking their sheep for sale to the Western States, es- pecially to Ohio. Their flock on hand, at the date above mentioned, numbered six hundred, one half imported French Merinos, and their descendants. They have a high opinion of the French as well as Spanish Merinos, and think a cross between these breeds would be advantageous.
William R. Sanford, Esq., of Orwell, and Messrs. William S. and Edwin Hammond of Middlebury, have, for several years, been extensively engaged in breeding and dealing in sheep. For our convenience we treat of the operations of these parties together, as they have been, to some extent, connected, and much of our infor- mation relating to both, has been obtained from Edwin Hammand, Esq. They both breed the pure Spanish Merinos, descendants of the flock, which Col. Humphreys, who was at the time American Minister to Spain, imported into Connecticut in 1802, or of the flocks, which William Jarvis, Esq., then American Consul in Spain, imported in 1809, 1810 and 1811. These they greatly prefer to any more recently imported, or to any other breed. The usual flock of Mr. Sanford numbers from 250 to 500. Messrs. Hammond's flock, at this time, (1855) numbers 400, including lambs. The sales of both have been uniformly made at home.
In a communication from Mr. Sanford. published in the Albany Cultivator, for September 1844, he says : " In 1820, I purchased of Messrs. Grant and Jenison of Walpole, N. II., twenty old full blood Merino ewes, which were parchased by them, when lambs, of Hon. Mr. Jarvis, and warranted full blood. These I have kept dis- tinct and pure, and from them have reared a flock. The ewes yield an average of four pounds and over to the fleece of clean, hand- some wool. Messrs. Grant and Jenison, bought these sheep from Mr. Jarvis before the Saxony sheep were introduced into the coun- try, and 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, and by using them and my own rearing have kept them pure." Since the above, Mr.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Sanford has made several purchases, to a large amount, of descend- ants of Col. Humphreys' flock. At the National Exhibition of cattle and horses, at Boston, in October 1855, Mr. Sanford obtained the second premium on Spanish Merino bucks, two years old and over ; the first premium on bucks under two years old, and on ewes the two first premiums; and at the Vermont State Fair at Rutland, in September of that year, the first premium on Spanish Merino buck lambs and ewe lambs.
In 1844, Messrs. Hammond, wishing to improve their flock and extend their operations, examined the most important flocks in several New England States, and among others, that belonging to Stephen Atwood, of Watertown, Conn., and selected and purchased from his flock, thirty, and in the next four years several more. These Mr. Atwood had from Col. Humphreys' flock, under such circumstances, that he had satisfactory assurance that they wero pure and free from Saxony and other breeds. From these their present flock has been bred.
Mr. Sanford and the Messrs. Hammond, having for several years increased and improved their flocks by breeding " in and in," were desirous of finding other sheep, at least as good as theirs, to cross with them, and Mr. Sanford, in behalf of both parties, went to Europe for the purpose of examining the best flocks in the different countries, and of purchasing the best he could find. He examined the most distinguished in Spain and France. In the former country he found none which he was willing to import; in the latter he purchased twenty French Merinos. He went then into Germany, and, with the advice and aid of the American Consul, at Stuttgard, who had made himself thoroughly informed on the subject, and who accompanied him for a fortnight, he examined the most celebrated flocks in the different States of Germany, and extended his examina- tion as far as Prussia, and there purchased twenty Silesian shecp. These and the French sheep he imported. The French are much larger than the Spanish Merinos, or their descendants, with fleeces in proportion. But Mr. Hammond states, that the wool is not so even, varying in different parts of the body. The Silesian sheep are smaller than the Spanish, but the wool is fine. They did not 14
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
regard either of these as an improvement of their flocks and imme- diately sold them.
Mr. Edwin Hammond thinks the Spanish sheep have improved greatly since their importation into this country, and especially in this County; and that there are better sheep in the County of Addi- son than in any other part of the world. This opinion is founded on his own personal examination of many of the best flocks in this country, and the examination by Mr. Sanford and others of the most celebrated flocks in Europe. Ho offered, he said, to Mr. Sanford, on his going to Europe, one thousand dollars for a pair of imported sheep, as good as his, with a view of crossing them with his present flock ; but Mr. Sanford found none such during his tour.
The price of Mr. Hammond's sheep has increased every year. In 1853 their sales amounted to $7,000; in 1854 they sold two ewes for $1200, and six others for $1200. Their bucks that year were sold from $500 down to $10-the latter being culls. The , whole averaged $29, each. They have this year (1855,) sheared from two two year old bucks, 22 and 23 pounds; in 1854, from one yearling ewe 12, and from one two year old ewe 13 pounds. The wool was not washed on the sheep, but was clean.
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Solomon W. Jewett, Esq., of Weybridge, had for many years been an extensive dealer in grade sheep. In 1843 he began to interest himself in pure blood sheep. Ile purchased of the de- scendants of the Merinos imported by Col. Humphreys, Mr. Jarvis and others. Among others he purchased the celebrated buck " Fortune," a descendant of Mr. Jarvis's importation. Mr. Jewett raised from that buck about 200 lambs annually, which he sold from ten to twenty-five dollars, and some as high as $50 each. He sold several sheep sired by this buck, to Henry S. Randall, Esq., of Cortland Village, N. Y., on which he received the first and second premiums at the State Fair at Poughkeepsie in 1844, and with which, together with Mr. Jewett's buck, he published a challenge for competition, to the whole country.
In 1845, Mr. Jewett imported from England ten Spanish Meri- nos from the flock of Lord Weston, of Essex, who was the most noted breeder, and had the best flock of Spanish sheep in England.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Six hundred of these sheep, he states, having been presented, in 1803, to George III. That king gave Lord Weston the privilege of selecting from the flock, when first landed at Plymouth. These Mr. Jewett thinks were much inferior to the best flocks in this country. From the above, and some other additions, he kept for several years a flock of from 500 to 600 blooded sheep.
In 1851, Mr. Jewett went to Europe, for the purpose of examin- ing and purchasing sheep, and has been twice since for the same purpose. In France he purchased, at fifteen or twenty shipments, seven hundred French Merinos, which he selected from the three best flocks in that country, owned by Messrs. Gilbert, Cugnot and Guerin, and a few from the government flock at Rambouillet. These sheep, including expenses cost about $55,000. He has sold most of these at an average of about $100, each, the sales amounting to from 15 to 20,000 dollars annually. He sold one pair, a buck and ewe at $600. He also imported from Spain in 1854, ten sheep, through Mr. Haddock, the American Minister to Portugal ; but not being such as he wished to keep, he butchered them.
As to the relative value of the different breeds of sheep, Mr. Jewett's opinion is, that, if the farmer's object is to raise mutton, as well as wool, the French Merinos of the first quality are the best ; but for wool only, the Spanish. He has had an opportunity, not only for a personal examination of the best flocks in this country and in Europe, but has examined the published accounts of the weight of the fleeces of Spanish sheep in both countries, and his opinion is that they have greatly improved in this country since their importation. Referring particularly to the flock of the Messrs. Hammond of Middlebury, he expressed the opinion, that the fleeces of their sheep exceed, by one third or more, the fleeces of the native Spanish sheep. Indeed he expresses the decided opinion, that their flock is the best flock in the world.
Alonzo L. Bingham and Merrill Bingham, brothers of Cornwall, have been as long and as extensively engaged in the sheep business as any other farmers in the County. They have been not only large breeders but large purchasers ; and have sold large numbers for many years in the Western, Middle and Southern States. From
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Merrill Bingham personally, we have had no information. From. Alonzo L. Bingham, we learn that he has been engaged in the breeding, purchasing and selling sheep for twenty years. He, for many years and until 1846, devoted his attention exclusively to Spanish Merinos, purchased from different importers.
In 1846, he commenced breeding French Merinos, and has im- ported large numbers through John A. Tainter, Esq., of Hartford, Conn. He now prefers the French sheep, and gives his whole at- tention to them. When his attention was given to the Spanish, he had a flock of twelve hundred, -although not always so many- and raised annually from four to five hundred. Since he com- menced with French sheep, his flock has been less; but he has raised from them annually more than he has ewes, -many of them having twins. At the State fair in the fall of 1855, he received not less than nine premiums on different classes of French sheep.
In the Vermont Register of May 31st, 1854, we find an article containing a statement of his sales from September 1st 1853, to May 1st, 1854, from which we collect the following summary. The sheep were French Merinos, and the amount of sales, during the above mentioned eight months, was $43,302,50. All but the amount of $7,033, which were sold by an agent at the wrest, were sold by himself on his farm in Cornwall, to persons living in each of the States of Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Missouri, Connecticut and Vermont. He states also, that his sales of sheep for the last year,* have amounted to between thirty and forty thousand dollars ; and that the average price for which his French sheep have been sold, is $175. Mr. Bingham thinks, that both the Spanish and French sheep are greatly improved by being raised in this County. He says it is admitted, all over the west, that the sheep of Addison County are superior to any others; and that Mr. Tainter, who has been a large importer, says, that he found no such Spanish sheep in Europe, as in this County, and that French sheep are also greatly improved here.
* We wish the reader to bear in mind, that the materials for these chapters were obtained in 1855 and the chapters written at that time,
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
As a specimen of the weight of Mr. Bingham's fleeces, at his sheep-shearing in 1852, (we have no later information) we give the following extract from an editorial article in the Middlebury Reg- ister of May 26th of that year. "We select the following particu- lar instances from those sheared on the first day.
CARCASS.
FLEECE.
No. 16
107 pounds.
21 pounds.
« 23
91₴
20
25
134}
23}
26
891
194
33
111}
18
105
There were thirty-three sheared on that day, " nearly or quite all yearling ewes."
The agriculturists named, are probably the most extensive deal- ers in the County. But there are many others, who are largely engaged in breeding and in the improvement of their flocks, in every part of the County; some of whom are more or less also employed in the trafic. But we are not able to detail their operations. The raising of wool takes precedence of all other branches of farming in almost every town. We should be glad to avail ourselves of any means in our power to give a definite statement of the number of sheep, and the annual amount of the crop of wool in the County. We have spoken of the extensive trafic as an historical fact. But it is the breeding and improvement of the flocks, which is the more appropriate business of the agriculturist. The success which has attended this department has induced the trafic, to which we have re- ferred. The speculations and the extravagant prices and profits, which have arisen from this source may to some extent dic away, when the country is more generally supplied with the best breeds : but while the County sustains the reputation of raising the best sheep, there will be a market for them for recruiting and improving the flocks in less favored regions of the country.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER X.
CATTLE-HORSES.
THE standing of Vermont is generally strikingly shown by the reports of the Boston cattle market ; in which the number from this State appears, from week to week, to be nearly double those of any other New England State. Of these, Addison County, we believe, furnishes its full share ; and it is represented, that the exhibitions, at the annual County fairs, are not inferior to those of any other County. But the farmers have made fewer efforts in that depart- ment, than in those of sheep and horses. We regret that, with all our diligence, we have not been able to ascertain, from those who best know, what efforts have been made and the success which has attended them. At an early day, Thomas Byrd, Esq., of Vergen- nes, and soon after General Amos W. Barnum, of the same place, introduced into that neighborhood a considerable number of import- ed English breeds, and the full blood and cross breed of Ayer- shires, Herefords and Durhams, are quite common in the north part of the County, and, to some extent, prevail in other parts. Wight- man Chapman, Esq., then of Weybridge, kept on his farm, for eight or ten years, a very celebrated Ayershire bull, presented to him by John P. Cushing, Esq., of Massachusetts, which was es- teemed by many the best bull in the country. The editor of the Albany Cultivator, who had examined him, in the number for August 1845, says : " He is a good bull, has a small clean head, clean limbs, a well shaped body and mellow skin. With the excep- tion of Mr. Archibald's bull, sent to the Poughkeepsie Show from Montreal, he is decidedly the best bull we have ever seen." The blood of this animal has been extensively diffused through the cattle in the central parts of the County. Governor Jenison, in the
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