280 SOUTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



on this animal so indispensible to the necessities of all civilized com- 

 munities. We could find an apology for this in the fact of the 

 stormy morning ; but on referring to the list of entries we find the 

 name of but one other farmer who had made preparation to con- 

 tribute to this part of the exhibition. 



It seems almost an impossibility to account for the apparent want 

 of interest in this branch of husbandry, on any principle, by which 

 intelligent men are usually actuated in the prosecution of their busi- 

 ness. This want of interest is not shown, alone, in the business of 

 the exhibitions in this Society, and other societies in this and adjoin- 

 ing counties ; but in the actual diminutions of the flocks in the State. 

 It would seem that the sure profits of a good flock of sheep, when 

 well cared for, would be sufficient to overpower the hatred any man 

 could entertain against an animal so useful, innocent and happy ; 

 though it should equal that of eccentric John Randolph, when he 

 said he "would go a mile, any time, to kick a sheep." 



It may be said without fear of contradiction, that sheep, for a 

 series of years have paid for their food and care better than any 

 other stock. 



The few farmers in this section who have had the perseverance to 

 keep "the even tenor of their way," and keep up their flocks through 

 a few years of low prices, have realized as much from their flocks, 

 while the low prices continued, as from other stock requiring the 

 same amount of food and care, and they are now receiving an annual 

 profit, equal to the value of the fleece ; the increase in numbers, 

 sold for the meat paying all the cost of keeping. The farmers in 

 Vermont and New Hampshire, who have pursued a straight forward 

 course in sheep keeping, have almost without exception, made them- 

 selves independent. They say, and it may be instructive to us, that 

 in seasons of short crops of hay, they can reduce their stock to their 

 fodder without loss, if the stock consists of sheep principally, and 

 that it cannot be done when other stock is kept, to the exclusion of 

 sheep. Some of them, a few years ago, were of opinion, that it cost 

 them but twenty-five cents to raise a lamb, and they were sure of 

 receiving that or more for the pelt, if they were under the necessity 

 of killing in the fall, and giving away, or throwing away the car- 

 cass. 



Sheep keeping may be prosecuted without the fear of diminution 



