No. 85.] 257 



endure hard labor better, when fed with corn meal properly mixed 

 with other food, or ground with the cob, than when fed on anything 

 else. This is particularly true of working oxen. 



The food of the slave in our southern states is principally Indian 

 corn, with a little (in some cases it is feared too little) bacon ; yet 

 the performance of his daily task, requires the constant exercise of 

 muscular strength. 



Judge Cheever thought it of but little consequence whether all the 

 fish of the sea, or all the varieties of sheep, and all breeds of hogs, 

 came from one orimnal stock — we take them as we find them. We 

 need not trouble ourselves to get an improved race of swine from the 

 wild hog of Louisiana, since we had the Berkshire and other valuable 

 jreeds already made perfect at our hands. We were only left to in- 

 quire how we could best keep up those breeds and turn them to the 

 best account. Much had been said about the different kinds of Eng- 

 lish sheep — the Leicester, Cotswold, South Down, &c. In the river 

 counties of this State, and in other places where the flesh can be easily 

 taken to market, these sheep would doubtless pay the farmer well. 

 But in the interior of the State, at points remote from market, the 

 Merinoes would undoubtedly prove the best breed. Give them then 

 the attention in feeding which the Cotswolds and South Downs re- 

 ceive, and if the owner does not get as many pounds of wool, he 

 would get as many pounds of money. He thought that with due 

 attention, an average weight of four pounds per fleece might be got 

 from Merinoes, 



Mr. Howard here called on Mr. Mclntyre to state the average 

 weight of his Cotswold fleeces, and the price per pound at which they 

 sold. Mr. J. McDonald Mclntyre replied that they averaged about 

 eight pounds, and sold for 28 cents per pound. Mr. Howard wished 

 then to call the attention of J%dge Cheever and the meeting, to the 

 following statement. The Cotswold fleeces, 8 lbs. each, at 28 cents, 

 would amount to $2.24. Merino fleeces, at the highest weight the 

 gentleman claimed for them, 4 lbs. each, at 40 cents, (the highest 

 price last season,) would amount to $1.60 — making a difference in 

 favor of the Cotswolds of 64 cents per fleece. Four pounds per fleece 

 for Merinoes would be a very extraordinary yield, as an average, 

 though bucks and wethers sometimes sheared considerably more. No 

 one breed of sheep should be recommended for every farmer, or every 

 situation — we want several kinds of wool, and must have several 

 breeds of sheep. Let the breed be chosen with regard to location 

 and purposes. 



Mr. HoRSFORD, in support of Dr. Lee, who had left, and some of 

 whose positions in regard to the improvement of which stock are sus- 

 ceptible, had been questioned by Mr. Howard — remarked that the va- 

 rieties oljserved among sheep, among cattle and among horses, had 

 been referred by Cuvier, whose authority in matters of comparative 

 anatomy and physiology was supreme, to modes of life, differences 

 of climate, and kinds of food. The ability of man to enstamp colors 

 upon stock, was illustrated in the early history of the human race. 

 Jacob, when promised by Laban all the ring streaked, speckled and 



[Senate, No. 85. J R 



