SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 67 



I have discussed this subject thus far solely with reference to 

 small flocks kept on just such pasturage as we now have, and shel- 

 tered in our present barns and sheds. It has been my aim chiefly, 

 to show that in keeping large flocks in just such enclosures as we 

 now have in the county, fair profit may be made. But I trust that 

 in some one or more of our towns single individuals or companies 

 may undertake the keeping of sheep in flocks of ultimately not less 

 than 1000. I have computed the cost of the summer pasturage of 

 sheep at 30 cts. per head. This is made up of 6 per cent, of the 

 interest on the land and 10 per cent, of the cost of fences. The 

 latter is the principal item. As soon as the number of sheep 

 becomes so great that the latter item exceeds the summer wages 

 of a shepherd, it will be desirable to dispense with fences and use 

 shepherds and sheep dogs. Such can undoubtedly be procured 

 from Scotland at reasonable wages. A shepherd with a family 

 could carry on the entire business, including the raising of hay and 

 roots, and subsist himself from the products of a large sheep farm. 

 Besides the saving of fences, there would be the saving of manure 

 by the nightly folding of the sheep, upon ground destined for roots 

 or grain, and enclosed with the movable hurdles I have described ; 

 and then under the constant attention of shepherds, the losses by 

 dogs, wolves and men would run down to nothing. There are 

 already many establishments of this kind in different parts of the 

 United States, profitably managed. The advantage in climate and 

 cheap lands which Washington county possesses will assure suc- 

 cess in such an enterprise, whenever it shall be systematically and 

 judiciously undertaken and persevered in. 



Great advantages are justly claimed for the Islands upon our 

 coast, as affording pasturage for sheep through the whole year, 

 with little or no foddering. All such privileges will of course be 

 eagerly improved. But they are limited. Nor can a method of 

 keeping sheep which dispenses with shelter and feeding, be relied 

 upon to produce the highest priced wools, or to realize the great- 

 est profits. The sheep so kept are less prolific, and the tendency 

 is to coarseness of fleece. Besides the sheep soon become wild 

 and many fleeces and sheep are annually lost on account of 

 the difficulty of catching for shearing and for shelter. All writers 

 agree that to make wool, liberal feeding and shelter are requisite. 

 Undoubtedly great profits might be made at first in keeping sheep 

 where neither fences nor barns, nor storehouse nor fodder were 



