SECRETARY'S REPORT. 35 



sheep will thrive faster on the same amount of food from a rack than if it be 

 thrown under their feet. They will do well on almost any kind of fodder 

 which is well cured and properly fed out, without grain, and. the next sum- 

 mer they thrive better than those that have been highly grained through the 

 winter. They should not be confined in small pastures Avithout frequent 

 change as their manure very soon enriches the land and they will not graze 

 well where the grass becomes rank. 



It has been said that much depends on location, but my belief is that there 

 is not a foot of land in Maine too good for sheep ; and yet they will do pretty 

 well on poor land. Sheep, lambs and wool can be and are sold in all loca- 

 tions ; therefore I hold that the kind which gives the most and best wool, and 

 the best lambs for the butcher, is the kind of sheep for Maine farmers. 



Those who keep Merinos will acknowledge this if they will make the 

 change. Wool from the pui-e improved South Down is but a shade coarser 

 than the Merino, and for lambs and mutton, the superior quality is so marked 

 that all are convinced that have used both. 



I do not contend that a profit cannot, and is not derived from all kinds of 

 sheep ; but a larger one may be realized by the cross 1 recommend, and if any 

 sceptic will give it a fair trial, and is not satisfied, come to me and I will try 

 to give him satisfaction. 



Mr. Jewett in submitting this report remarked, that in accord- 

 ance with the wishes of those who sent him, he would ask for 

 an expression of opinion on the part of the Board as to the best 

 breeds of domestic animals for the farmers of Maine ; whether the 

 Board endorsed his own preference for South Down sheep or not, 

 much anxiety was felt for some definite expression. 



This introduced a subject often discussed previously, and the 

 Board held now, as before, that its duty was rather to lay before 

 the farmers of Maine all the information in its power, so as to ena- 

 ble them to form some correct opinions, each for himself, according 

 to his wants and circumstances ; that as no one breed combined the 

 highest excellencies in all respects, the man who required most 

 rapid growth and largest size in his oxen would be best suited 

 with a breed which would not be so satisfactory to the farmer who 

 attached greater importance to dairy qualities. So in sheep and 

 other animals. The aim should be ioioards imprwement and adap- 

 tation to the wants and means of each. 



With regard to the reports thus presented by members, they 

 were held as representing the views of the individual, and that he 

 alone is responsible for them. If a resolve attached to the report 

 was adopted by the Board, it was to be taken as the voice of the 

 Board. 



In this connection the following preamble and resolution were 



unanimously adopted : 



Whereas, it has been found by experience that any and all of the improved 

 varieties of cattle and sheep, however valuable each may be in its appropriate 

 place, are not of equal value in other localities and for different purposes, 

 therefore 



