178 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



"whether long or short, or middle woolled ; whether hairy or ^-oolly, 

 or a more even mixture of the two extreme varieties. In plain 

 ■\\-ords, let us take the sheep as we find them, ^ood, and build up 

 fitting varieties by nice selections, vigilance and suitable food. 



The true question appears to be, not whether Maine, like Saxony, 

 ■ is capable of raising sheep which shall produce wool of a maximum 

 degree of fineness, without regard to the cost ; but, what varieties of 

 sheep are by their nature best adapted to our climate and soil, to 

 the general condition and situation of our farms, and which will at 

 the least risk and cost, make the greatest return in federal money. 



It may be that Dr. Browne is correct in assigning to Maine, the 

 Merino. They are certainly fast growing into favor in those coun- 

 ties where the most attention is given to large flocks of sheep; while 

 in the immediate vicinity of each great market of the State, the 

 mutton sheep — South Downs, Cotswolds, Oxfordshire Downs, and 

 the hairy Leicester, with its loose and open pile — are each paying 

 large profits to their respective breeders. 



Upon due consideration, it is recommended that every farmer in 

 the State qualify himself, by his own practical experience and care- 

 ful observation for argument upon (as it is assumed to be) the yet 

 unsettled question, "What is the most suitable and best breed of 

 sheep for Maine?" Let each one immediately procure more or less, 

 as good as he can select, of the kind which seems to him fitted to 

 his wants ; then with a specimen of each fleece in hand, numbered 

 to correspond to a number upon the sheep from which it came, con- 

 sult some intelligent wool sorter, and thus learn which ones are of 

 nearly uniform quality ; then with the aid of his friend the butcher, 

 choose from the ' select,'' those which develop the fullest proportions, 

 and the most perfect forms, and thus determine upon his breeding 

 ewes; after which he should not hesitate to put himself to still greater 

 trouble, or even to a considerable expense, to procure an active buck 

 of robust health, excelling in that quality of wool towards which he 

 intends to breed. This is particularly urged because all the author- 

 ities agree in attributing to the buck the greater cflect upon the 

 wool, and many consider his influence paramount in conveying all 

 qualities to the progeny. Let him, in both buck and ewes obtain as 

 thick a fleece as possible, always rejecting one that has the wool 

 thin and open along the back, and the belly bare or imperfectly 

 covered. 



