88 [Senate 



The second premium, Col. Tour, for the second best to S. H. 

 Church, of Vernon, Oneida county. 



The third premium, Diploma, to J. R. Jones, of Vernon, for his 

 cross of Saxon and Merinos. 



Ewes. 



For the best pen of five ewes, the first premium, $10, is awarded 

 toS. H. Church, of Vernon, Oneida county. 



The second best. Col. Tour, to S. B. Crocker, of Vernon, Oneida 

 county. 



And the third best, a Diploma, to D. C. Barnes, of Deerfield,, 

 Oneida county. 



Lambs. 



For the best pen of five lambs, the premium of |5 is award- 

 ed to L. J. Marshall, ol Vernon, Oneida county. 



The committee in the discharge of their duty might properly 

 stop here without entering into a discussion of the merits of the 

 Saxons, as compared with other sheep bearing fine wool, but they 

 felt that they would not have fully met public expectation, did 

 they not say a word in vindication of this variety without derogating^ 

 from that of their competitors, the Merinos. The first importations 

 of fine sheep from abroad were the useful Merinos. The crossing of 

 these upon our native flocks has very much benefitted that branch 

 of agriculture and given immense wealth to our country. In 

 process of time, however, it was discovered that in Saxonyy 

 there were sheep, probably in the first instance bred from Me- 

 rinos, who had not quite the size of the carcase of the Merino, 

 but a softer kind of wool, and of finer texture. Many of these 

 sheep were imported into this country, and several of these flocks 

 have remained unmixed with any other variety, and the wool from 

 them has uniformly brought a much higher price than either the 

 pure Merino or the grade wool of the Saxon with Merino or any 

 other. The wool itself is of a softer texture and finer quality, and 

 although the Saxon has been crossed in every possible way, yet I 

 believe it cannot justly be contended that there is any other variety 

 of sheep in this country, that can compete with the Saxons in these 

 two qualities which are so essential to the manufacture of the finer 

 broadcloths and cassimeres. Indeed, an experienced judge, upon 

 running his hand over a piece of broadcloth, will tell you at once 

 nearly how much Saxon w^ool enters into its composition, and I have 

 never heard but that for its quality, it was quite as strong as that manu- 

 factured from any other variety of wool, and we all know it always 

 bears a much higher price. It has been objected to the Saxons that 

 they have slender constitutions, and are light of carcase. Perhaps 

 there may be something in the first objection, but the experience of 

 fifteen or twenty years has taught the friends of this animal, that 

 with ordinary care they are sufficiently hardy for our climate, and 

 thrive well in our pastures ; and no man having experience in the 

 growing of fine wool will for a moment say that the sheep that grow 

 it can, for any length of time, produce it, and be exposed to our in- 

 clement weather. If we will have fine wool, our sheep must be 

 sheltered from storms, and if, therefore, their constitutions are not as 



