144 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



for markets change, and old-time farming should be changed 

 to meet the demands offered by new means of transportation. 

 In conclusion, all care in selection and discrimination in 

 breeding will result in disappointment, without care in pro- 

 viding food of desirable qualities to bring out all latent 

 powers for wool and mutton. To accomplish this, increase 

 your stock to the extent of your hay and grain, provide 

 shelter for winter, raise roots without limit, and feed bounti- 

 fully ; thus bringing the animal to early maturity and to the 

 owners quick returns. 



Discussion. 



(Followdng the Papers of Messrs. Burleigh and Flint.) 



Dr. Lincoln, of Washington County. I fully agree with 

 Mr. Burleigh on the horse question, and think a great deal of 

 money is being lost by the neglect in raising oxen for farm 

 work. It can be better and cheaper done with oxen than 

 with horses. The outlay is very much less, and if an ox be 

 injured, he can be made beef. If a horse is hurt, he is 

 worthless. In our portion of the State, on our rough, rocky 

 soil, cattle can be used to much better advantage. To be 

 sure we have some very good horses, but the majority of 

 them are not adapted to farm work, cannot do as thorough 

 cultivation. I saw a few days ago, at the County Agricul- 

 tural Society's meeting, plowing — deep plowing — done with 

 cattle. The horse is a favorite animal with the farmer, or he 

 would be used less. I think Mr. Burleigh has pretty thor- 

 oughly exhausted the subject, and he is excellent authority. 

 I believe sheep husbandry is a subject you ought to consider 

 w-ell. I do not see why it would not be a very successful 

 branch to stock raising here in this county. Mr. Hayes says 

 the State is very well adapted to sheep raising for the mutton 

 market, but the best breeds of sheep for this county I am 

 not able to state. But the kind which grows the best wool 

 and mutton is the most desirable for raising. 



