SECRETARY'S REPORT. 155 



land, Ellsworth and Bluehill in Hancock, Mt. Vernon and Water- 

 ville in Kennebec, Buxton and Waterboro' in York, and others. 

 About three-fifths in number have made returns, and it is supposed 

 about three-fourths of the farmers and the productive acres are 

 represented. 



Imperfect as the returns are, and for a single year only, it is 

 believed that an examination and comparison will furnish many 

 suggestions both instructive and profitable, one or two of which 

 may be mentioned. Assuming that the returns approximate accu- 

 racy, and so far as they go, fairly represent all sections of the State, 

 it would appear that the sheep of Maine yield scarcely three and a 

 quarter pounds per head. This is too little, and suggests amend- 

 ment. The need of improvement in breeds is suggested by the 

 fact that more than three-fourths are set down as " common," 

 which, I suppose, means ill-bred or of no breed in particular. 

 Again, it appears that one county (Somerset) keeps nearly a quar- 

 ter of all the sheep in the State, and that they are better bred, 

 nearly two-thirds of the Merino sheep in the State being in that 

 county, and that they yield more wool — say four pounds per head 

 — not a very heavy fleece, to be sure, but if all did as well, we should 

 have a quarter of a million of pounds and upwards, in addition to 

 what we now have. 



A glance at the cows and dairy products shows the not very 

 creditable fact, that (even supposing none of the heifers under four 

 years of age to contribute anything to them,) only seventy pounds 

 of butter and twelve and a half pounds of cheese are produced, on an 

 average, by each cow ; while one town, at least, reports one hundred 

 and fifty pounds of butter to each cow. These are mentioned only as 

 a sample of the lessons which the statistics for a single season may 

 furnish. By comparing those for a series of years, deductions of 

 much greater importance may be drawn. It is earnestly hoped 

 that in future the returns may be full and accurate. 



