No. 112.] 861 



An experiment made by a person of unusual enterprise and 

 sagacity,* upon the borders of this county, the last season, on a 

 pine tract, has been marked by entire success, and will prove, it 

 is believed, the initiative of a new system in this husbandry. 

 He owned a wide extent of unoccupied sand plain, from which 

 the wood and timber had been removed, but had received no 

 subsequent tillage, although covered by a spontaneous growth of 

 shrubs and natural grasses. He turned upon this barren, a thou- 

 sand sheep, under the constant cluirge of a shepherd. The deli- 

 cate sprouts, the grasses, and varied wild herbage, afforded them 

 a healthful and nutritious food. At the close of autumn, the' 

 flock exhibited a thriving and improved condition. They were 

 folded at night, on fields intended for cultivati^-n, and by its fer- 

 tilizing effect upon the soil, this njanagement more than remu- 

 nerated all the expense of their keeping. In five years, meadow 

 lands can be formed by this system^ that will yield all the neces- 

 sary fodder for the flock. The territory of Essex county, embra- 

 ces vast tracts, now worthless, that, by this agency, may be con- 

 verted into productive sheep walks. The sheep proprietors of 

 this region, have generally guarded their flock with great care 

 and vigilance, from every infusion of Saxon blood. They show 

 no trace of its existence, except in rare instances. It is a])parent 

 that most of the wool growers have not exerted an appropriate 

 skill and judgment in promoting the improvement and progress 

 of their flocks. Their sheep have been too much regarded as a sub- 

 ordinate interest. Many flocks, however, in the county, possess 

 the highest qualities. That of the lion. Eli W. Rogtrs, has 

 been managed with great skill and success, and exhibits a combi- 

 nation of the choicest traits. 



The flock of Mr. lludgkins of Lewis, the basis of which is 

 from \ to \ Saxon, and f )rmed by an infusion of the Erench Me- 

 rino and At wood stock, can scarcely be excelled. This fiuck, as 

 well as that of Mr. Kogers, combines, in a remnrkable degree, 

 weight of fleece, with extreme fineness, and great softness, luster 

 and beauty of texture. They average over four pounds to the 

 animal. Mr. Iludirkins informs me, that he finds his Saxon ewes 

 excellent mothers. 



•Potcr Coraitock, Eiq. 



