COLONIAL SHEEP LAW. 307 



RETURNS. 



Fifty sheep, at a hundred and twenty-five pounds each, 6,250 



pounds, at 5J cents a pound .;..... $343 75 

 Five cords manure, at $o 25 00 



$368 75 



This shows a sale to the sheep ot hay and corn at about 

 double its actual cost to the farmer, and giving him a quan- 

 tity of the best manure. 



The testimony of almost all farmers is, that they can 

 make money by feeding sheep, i.e., they can dispose of their 

 hay and grain to the best advantage, securing a quicker and 

 safer return than from any other stock. 



One of the largest and most highly regarded farmers of 

 Middle New York says that a man who buys sheep pru- 

 dently, feeds judiciously, and sells them fat, cannot well fail 

 of success ; that for eighteen years he has fed large numbers, 

 and only made one loss. 



In concluding, we venture the hope, as practical men, that 

 some farmers may find, in the foregoing, matter for attention 

 and consideration. As a matter of curiosity we add an ac- 

 tion of our Puritan ancestors, not before generally published, 

 showing in a strong light their minute, practical, sagacious, 

 and solemn dealing with the sheep-husbandry more than two 

 centuries ago. 



ORDER OF GENERAL COURT, MAY 14, 1645. 



" Forasmuch as wollen cloth is so useful a commodity without which 

 wee cannot so comfortably subsist in these partes by reason of could 

 winters, — it being also at present very scarce and dear amongst us and 

 is likely shortly so to be in all those parts from whence wee can expect it 

 by reason of y" warrs in Europe destroying in a great measure y' flocks 

 of sheepe amongst them, and also y" trade and means it selfe of making 

 wollen cloaths & stuffs, by y' Killing and otherwise hindering of such 

 persons whose skill and labors tended to y' end ; whereas through y° 

 want of wollen cloaths & stuffs many poor people have suffered much 

 could and hardship to j' impairing of y' healths and y° hazarding of 

 some of their lives and such who have bene able to provide for their 

 childrens cloathing of cotton cloth (not being able to get other,) have 

 by that meanes had some of their children much scorched with fire, — 

 yea divers burnt to death, this Court therefore taking into consideration 

 our present condition in that particular, as also haveing an eye to y' 

 good of posterity, (Knowing how necessary and useful wollen cloths and 



