578 



mer to turn his attention to the raising of the larger breeds of sheep, 

 and look to the butcher for some of his profits instead of relying alto- 

 gether upon the wool. It is notorious that the merinos are the poorest 

 of all mutton sheep, and that when the wool is off their backs they are 

 really worth very little for market. This is a considerable drawback on 

 them as a profitable animal, near a market which has a constant demand 

 for the best meats ; while on the great prairies of the west, where the 

 wool is everything and the mutton is of little value, it would be consid- 

 ered no disadvantage whatever. The English have made persevering 

 attempts during the present century, to introduce the merinoes by cross- 

 ing them upon their strong fleshy breeds, but they have had to give it 

 up. Those who were the most successful in growing the merinoes, 

 found that the profits obtained from the wool did not compensate them 

 for the inferior prices their sheep brought when put in competition with 

 the Southdowns, the Leicesters, the Cotswolds, the Cheviots, and the 

 Lincolns, all of which, both in weight and quality of flesh, far excelled 

 the fine wooled race. I believe there are but two or three large flocks 

 of pure merinoes now in Great Britain. Our climate, from its dryness, 

 is much more favorable to merino sheep than that of England, but the 

 severity of our winters is such that no reasonable, calculating farmer, 

 ought to suppose they can pass that season without protection ; and the 

 more skillfully that protection is combined with ventilation and a pro- 

 per quantity of food, the sooner will his animals exceed in their produce 

 of wool the present average of 2^ pounds per head. 



With the steady demand that has sprung up for all kinds of animals 

 for the supply of the great city markets, and the high prices they bring, 

 it is at least a subject worth taking into consideration, whether mutton 

 would not pay better than wool. Still, however, it must as yet be a 

 matter of experiment, which can only be demonstrated by years of trial, 

 and cannot be decided either in a single season, nor by the experience 

 of a single farmer. 



Of the other productions of the farm, such as butter, cheese, pork, 

 &c., there is ample room for increase and improvement in thera, and I 

 have no doubt there will be both soon, especially when I tell you that 

 in the single article of cheese, your present rate of manufacture allows 

 only about two pounds six ounces a year to each man, woman and child, 

 within the limits of your county. This will hardly suflSce some of your 



