SECRETARY'S REPORT. I7I 



REPORTS. 



Ill accordance with the Resolve passed by the Board, near the 

 close of its late session, {see page 59,) the following papers 

 have been furnished for publication. 



On Sheep. 



By J. F. Anderson, South Windham. 



Charged by the Board of Agriculture, with the duty of reporting 

 upon "Sheep," I have diligently sought for knowledge upon the 

 .subject ; but not having had the large experience of the gentleman 

 who was last year entrusted with this duty, and not possessing suffi- 

 ciently good opportunities of obtaining reliable information requisite 

 without such experience, I cannot hope that my report will prove 

 more than a passing word upon this important branch of live stock. 



Throughout the history of farm improvement, we may observe a 

 prominent place accorded to sheep husbandry. All agricultural wri- 

 ters agree in assigning to this agency, the most rapidly marked and 

 surest consequences in advancing the general fertility of farming 

 land. The rank sward of the richest lea is improved, and the hard 

 and innutritions herbage of the almost barren hill top becomes sweet 

 and nourishing after being subjected to this influence. 



Says the Swedish proverb, " Sheep have golden feet, and wher- 

 ever the print of them appears, the soil is turned into gold." 



While most of our farmers will, upon reflection, freely admit that 

 live stock breeding ought to receive far more attention than it has 

 hitherto ; and while they unhesitatingly allow that, of all, sheep 

 breeding is the most profitable in appropriate places, how few there 

 are in the State, who act upon the thoughts which deliberation thus 

 brings out from their own reason and observation. It seems to pass 

 each one, like a point in his parson's discourse, as so applicable to a 

 neighbor, that it is astonishing he should continue to neglect bis 

 true interest; but a practical application to his own condition, only 

 enters his mind as a very general proposition, in considering which, 

 — if he dwells upon it at all — he satisfies himself with abundant 



