862 [Assembly 



Numerous other flocks, are scattered in the county, of great 

 value and superior properties. The characteristics of these flocks 

 are a sufficient fineness of wool for profitable sales, a weight of 

 fleece produced by length of fiber, solidity of fleece, and a full' 

 ness of growth about the extremities, with a purity of wool and 

 freeness from gum. The floek of the Messrs. Murdock, at Crown 

 Point, numbered 1,450 head of fine slieep, when I saw ihem in 

 August last. Other flocks range from 300 to 700 head. Crown 

 Point, Essex and Willsboro' form the prominent wool growing 

 districts of the county. A strong and general distrust of foreign 

 importations has prevailed in the county. Recently, however^ 

 several carefully selected and superior animals have been intro- 

 duced. A Silesian buck, by Messrs. Hammond & Baker, of 

 Crown Point, from the importation of Mr. Sanford. A buck and 

 several ewes from Mr. Jewett, by Paul B. Boynton, of Willsboro'. 

 A buck respectively by Mr. Root, of Essex, Mr. Hodgkins, of 

 Lewis, and Mr. R. S. Watson, of Port Kent, of a cross of the 

 French Merino and theAtwood stock, are among the late acquisi- 

 tions to the stock of the county. 



The Bakewell, Cotswold and Southdowns, are attracting much 

 attention. They have only very lately been introduced. SuAQl- 

 cient experience has been had with the Southdow-ns, to establish 

 the fact, that they form an excellent cross with the grade Merino, 

 where mutton is the primary object. This cross, is judged more 

 judicious, than a grade between the merinos and long-wooled va- 

 rieties. The issue of the latter, has generally proved light, coarse- 

 wooled, and open flwced, with no proportioned improvement of 

 the size and quality of the animal. The ready and cheap access 

 to the markets of Boston, and the southern cities, will render the 

 production of choice mutton, a business of obvious and great im- 

 portance to this county. A race of sheep, incidentally found in 

 the county, and predominating in Canada, which are distinguished 

 by long and coarse wool, large bodies and hardy habits, seem pe- 

 culiarly adapted to a cross w^ith the long and middle wooled sheep 

 of England. This cross, it is believed, would produce an animal 

 of the highest value for the shambles. 



