SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 163 



to throw them into a cold brook to wash them. Tn some respects 

 they are not unlike human beings ; some are nervous, and in the 

 aggregate thousands of them are lost in consequence of throwing 

 into a cold brook every year. 



Mr. Flint. The gentleman evidently made a profit on dirt. If 

 he is going to deal in wool he should sell the genuine article. His . 

 position is different from that of most of the farmers of the State ; 

 he is near a woolen manufactory. The trade of the bulk of our 

 State is with Boston, and we must put our wool in the condition 

 in which Boston buyers require it. I shear the first and second 

 weeks in June, usually finishing about the 16th. 



Mr. Barker of Houlton. I have adopted Mr. Lee's plan of 

 shearing early for a number of years, but for different reasons. 

 One is, that if there are ticks on the sheep they get rid of them 

 before they drop their lambs, and the lambs will not be troubled 

 with ticks. I think it is better for the sheep, as I have a warm 

 place and the wool starts before they go to grass, and they do not 

 suffer from the cold I cannot say, as Mr. Lee did, that I think I 

 made anything on the wool. I certainly think there would not 

 be a quarter discount, but I was compelled to make it. 



Mr. Wasson. In my section of the State the shearing is done 

 early in April and often as early as March, and those who have^ 

 sheared early never would go back to the old method, I think, 

 however, to lay this down as a general rule is unfair to the people 

 and it certainly is to the sheep. If sheep are in a locality where 

 they are exposed to cold winds in March or April, they ought not 

 to be sheared so early, because cold storms are death to them. 



The subject of sheep husbandry is one which has been much, 

 discussed by the Board, and much has been written about it, but 

 one upon which it is necessary to give line upon line and precept 

 upon precept. The great mistake that the farmers fall into is, 

 that when wool is high they all rush into sheep husbandry, and 

 when there is a depression, and wool isn't worth more than half 

 what it was, those who bought at a high price are anxious to sell 

 and get out of it. Now the time to buy sheep and build up a 

 flock is when they are low, and the farmer who has a flock of sheep 

 when wool is worth but about 17 cents, if he will hold on to them, 

 increase his number and keep his wool for an advance in price, 

 it will pay him better than anything else in which he can invest 

 his money. Take the years 1864 and 1867. In 1864 there were 

 more and in 1867 less sheep in the State than at any period since 



