430 STATE BOAKI) OF AGRICULTURE. 



chaiifo tho embryo Iamb into any form be tlesired, and tliat he rather enconra^efl the 



pronml-jation of tliat idea. Time and expcrinuMit in oihcr directions liave proved 

 that hi ".-eor<'t was but the revolts of an intelli^rent an<l bn^y l)rain, l)acked Ijy untiring 

 industry and perseverance, Elhnan was anotber worl<er of tbe same cbaraeter. but in 

 a dilVerent direction. He unfolded the capacities of the Down sbeep of l'^n;jiand to 

 furnisli a supply of tbe cboicest anin)al food known to tlie world, and size, character 

 and form of tbe wliole race of tb(! middle-wooled sheep of Great Britain were im- 

 proved, so tliat they now seem to be almost, a diflerent variety from their ancestors 

 tliat cropped the short herbage of the bleak tracts of pasture in Sussex, Hampshire, 

 Shropshire and Oxfordsliire. 



During the early part of the present century our own citizens, while liard at work \n 

 the formation of tbe Republic of tlie Union, and trying to supply the demands which 

 its numerous wants bad created, took the merinos from tbe hands of the importers, 

 and, placing them on the bills of New England, found that it was necessary to modify 

 and change the cliaracterisiics which bad been acrjnired l)y centuries of the treatment 

 accorded them in their old liabitat — Spain. Hence we find in tracing tlie history of 

 practical sbeep husbandry in this country, that a few men commenced the work of 

 improvement and of developing the nature of the merino sheep with a marked suc- 

 cess that has made their names famous tliroughout the length and breadth of tbe land. 



The early importations, we have reason to believe, possessed the long, small head 

 and thin neck, the narrow chest, tbe flat rib, the long legs, the small bone, the light 

 fine fleece, which is to-day condemned, and has been changed into the full bead and 

 neck, tlie broad chest, the round rib and back, the short leg*, the larger bone, and the 

 heavy fleeces, which to-day characterize the best flocks of the hardy, robust, compact, 

 and symmetrical sheep which meets the eye in so many flocks of tlie American merino, 

 and charms it with its beauty and perfection, as models of highly wrought mechan- 

 ical skill. 



'J he results obtained from these improvements on the original importations have 

 been as satisfactory, financially, as they have been in meeting the wants of the breeder 

 in bis demands for a higher development. They have not been gained without study 

 or without earnest; and untiring laiior and many disappointing experiments. To be 

 a successfid breeder, requires peculiar gifts as well as talents of no mean order. The 

 same powers of reasoning and observation, those great instincts which flash like 

 lightning on the inventor, the enterprising merchant, the great leader of armies, and 

 that power of discrimination and selection which is cultivated by experience, are 

 brought into play by the men who revolutionize a herd of animals. Tbe Bates and 

 the Booths are just as great in their way as farmers and breeders as are the Bis- 

 marcks. the Lincolns, oi- the Grants, who lead in the progress of a nation. Tbe idea 

 that men who are fools in any other occupation, can make good enough farmers, 

 should be exploded. We want Bakewells and Ellmans— more Atwoods and Ham. 

 monds — more Riches and Robinsons. We want moie farmers with foresight and en- 

 ergy who will study tlie necessity of their flocks and herds, and who will breed only 

 from the best of tlier kind, no matter where they come from. It is only tbe careless, 

 the idle, the farmer without brains that will be lieard to remark that practical sheep 

 husbandry of the highest order will not paj-. 



THURSDAY MORXIXG SESSION. 



The Convention met, the President in the chair. 



The President invited all who were present to take part in the discussion 

 •vvho took an interest in the breeding of sheep and tlieir iniprovenient. 



Mr. Thompson, from the Committee on Registry, reported that two of the 

 old committee were absent, and the President appointed Mr. Ray and Mr. 

 Hardy to fill out. 



Mi\ Peter Martin, of Rush, N. H., read his paper on "Stock-raising." 



Mr. E.Townsend followed with ''Remarks on the Adaptation and Management 

 of Breeding Ewes." 



Mr. Hugh McDonald, of Horton, read a paper on the ''Long wooled sheep 

 and their management." 



Mr. Deville Hubbard, of Marshall, followed with an address on the ''Profits 

 of keeping the long wools as a business in place of all others." 



Mr. Smith, from the Committee on Order of Business, reported, and recom- 

 mended that the election of officers shall be the first business of the afternoon 



