SECRETARY'S REPORT. ^Q"^ 



The keeping of sheep is also repeatedly referred to by other cor- 

 respondents, as a means of restoring lost fertility, and its importance 

 and value in this light is believed not to be generally appreciated. 

 Indeed, sheep husbandry, viewed in any of its aspects, has not 

 received the attention in this State which its importance demands. 

 It is- not proposed, at this time, to dwell at length upon the general 

 subject, but only to mention some points worthy of consideration; 

 for when its advantages are fully understood, no doubt is entertained 

 that sheep husbandry will take more prominent rank in our agricul- 

 ture than it has done hitherto. 



Wool is an article of prime necessity — it must always be in de- 

 mand ; and from some source or other, a supply will be obtained. 

 Now the question for the Maine flirmer to solve, is this : Can we 

 find some grade of wool which, in connexion with mutton, can be 

 profitably grown at a price enabling us to compete with anybody 

 anywhere? for as long as the question of protection is so vexed an 

 one in our national councils as it has hitherto been, this is the only 

 safe ground. If we can, then we may always have a remunerating 

 market, tariff or no tariff; and that it can be, seems highly probable 

 from the flict that some have kept sheep, and profitably too, through 

 all the fluctuations heretofore experienced, and these fluctuations it 

 is, which have been a chief cause of discouragement, rather than 

 the actual cost of production and market value. A critical examina- 

 tion of the facts bearing on this point, connected with judicious and 

 carefully conducted experiments, will probably decide, the question 

 afiirmatively. 



But wool is not the only product yielded by sheep, and experi- 

 ment may show that it is not, with many of our farmers, the one 

 chiefly to be relied on. Tliey yield mutton also; and while poor 

 mutton is the poorest meat, good mutton is the best, certainly the 

 most nutritious and digestible, which finds its way to our tables. 

 Very little of such as would he deemed of really prime quality in 

 a mutton-eating community, like that of England, is found in our 

 markets, and hence its too general lack of appreciation in the popular 

 taste. There is ^ain, however, in this respect. It is becoming 

 gradually a more important element of food, and when occasionally 

 that which is really choice is offered, the price which it commands is 

 so amply remunerative that wool may be deemed of secondary 



