396 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



mence early in the fall, when the feed begins to fail, by giving 

 them a little grain, and when the grass is gone, I give them roots. 

 There is considerable expense involved in feeding sheep for market, 

 but I have always found it to pay well in the end. It costs me 

 from eight to ten dollars to feed a sheep during the winter and 

 spring months, and I have so far succeeded in getting from $15 to 

 $20 a head when fat. 



In regard to breeds, I am not here to advertise any particular 

 breed. I have always made this a point : — to consider what breed 

 gave the best returns. That is commonly thought to be an impor- 

 tant consideration ; but it is not considered so much as it should 

 be. Although the wool amounts to quite an item, still, the meat 

 is the great consideration. 



Question, What breed do you think the best ? 



Mr. Luce. I have used tj^e South Down. I have readily sold 

 the meat for twenty-five cents a pound — that is, the hind quarters 

 — in the latter part of the fall and winter. 



Question. How do they compare with the other breeds as to 

 early maturity, and readiness to take on flesh ? 



Mr. Luce. I have never found anything to excel them, and, so 

 far as I have heard that is the general opinion. I seldom kill a lot 

 of lambs that do not average twelve pounds to the hind quarter. I 

 only sell the hind quarters. And I will say to anybody who will 

 raise a goud article of mutton, or anything else, the more you sell, 

 the better market you will have. 



Farmers' Clubs. 



The Chairman. It has been suggested that the time remaining 

 to us may be profitably devoted to learning from delegates and 

 others present in regard to Farmers' Clubs, — what they have done 

 and are doing, and what are their prospects of usefulness. 



Mr. Leland. The club in this place, called the Village Farmers' 

 Club, was set in operation last fall, through the labors of Mr. 

 Chamberlain. The meetings through the winter were exceedingly 

 interesting. You have heard Messrs. Gurney, Lebroke, Robinson 

 and others, and can judge whether we have the necessary ability 

 to insure success. You have not heard all our talkers, liovvever, 

 and perhaps I ought to add that our club includes both sexes. 

 Women have as much at stake in farm and home improvements as 

 men have. Our discussions have not been confined wholly to 

 strictly agricultural topics, but have embraced a wider range. 



