300 



not long since two sheep ont heir way to Illinois, from Ohio, 

 which had cost one hundred and seventy-five dollars. The 

 want of fine animals, by which our stock might be profitably 

 crossed, was everywhere experienced, and he believed that 

 our Agricultural Societies would do much towards providing 

 for these wants. But whilst leaving much to their energy 

 and exertion, there were legislative measures necessary to 

 protect them in the fruits of their enterprise. There were 

 two evils which ought to be provided for without longer de- 

 lay. These were to prevent male stock from running at 

 large, and to give protection to the wool grower against the 

 depredations of dogs. 



He had, a short time since, been written to by a farmer, 

 upon the supposition that he could do something in the mat- 

 ter, asking that some law might be enacted to protect him. 

 This man had purchased a valuable lot of ewes, and whilst 

 keeping them to the proper season to run with the male, a 

 worthless animal had got amongst them and destroyed his 

 expectations of an improved stock. Such instances as these 

 are of constant occurrence. The injury sustained from the 

 destruction of sheep by dogs was great, and an efficient rem- 

 edy ought to be provided. 



He thought that our flocks of sheep might profitably be 

 largely increased. We consumed some seventy millions of 

 pounds of wool more than we raised. The English farmer 

 who pays so much more for rent of the land he cultivates, 

 can undersell ours and pay a duty too. This fact shows that 

 we have much improvement yet to make. In Ohio, the an- 

 nual surplus of wool is about three millions of pounds, whilst 

 in this State, he thought it did not exceed a quarter of a mil- 

 lion. Mutton hams are now cured in such a manner as 

 scarcely to be distinguished from venison. For the wool or 

 for the flesh we may profitably, and easily and quickly raise 

 them. But he confidently anticipated that the generous riv- 

 alry created by the influence of our Agricultural Societies, 

 would soon stimulate all to a desire for improvement, whilst 



