88 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



that now feeds only cows, — or even but half the number of 

 sheep, — it is plain that an important addition might be made to 

 the aggregate wealth of the county and to the yearly income of 

 every farmer. For there are at this moment not less than ten 

 thousand cows fed on our pastures and in our barns. 



But without enlarging upon a topic which commends itself 

 to the consideration of farmers here, and\vhich is receiving much 

 attention elsewhere, we take pleasure in presenting the views 

 of one of the most intelligent members of this society, whose 

 opinions, on all matters relating to farm stock, are universally 

 regarded as of the highest value. 



Sanford Howard, Esq., thus writes: — 



" Boston, Nov. 19, 1859. 



"Rev. C. C. Sewall, Dear Sir, — I submit a few suggestions in 

 regard to a branch of husbandry, which it seems to me has not 

 received that attention in the county of Norfolk its importance 

 demands, viz. : The keeping' of Sheep. 



•' I am aware that the wants of the community require a cer- 

 tain number of horses, oxen and cows ; but any surplus of grass 

 and hay that may remain after supporting the stock that is 

 indispensable, might be profitably consumed by sheep. No 

 animal is so well adapted to land of inferior quality, and none 

 produces so favorable an effect on the soil. In Great Britain, 

 particularly in "Wales and Scotland, there are vast tracts which 

 have been occupied as sheep-ranges, from time immemorial, 

 without any manure except that dropped by their sheep ; and 

 yet the productive power of the soil is undiminished. There 

 are some portions of our own country, where sheep have been 

 pastured on the same land for from fifty to a hundred years, 

 the number being now as great, in proportion to the extent of 

 land, as formerly. I need not stop to consider the causes of 

 this well established fact. 



" But it may be asked — Is the soil of Norfolk County as well 

 suited to sheep as that of Britain ? A considerable portion 

 of it is not. Our climate is dry compared with that of the 

 principal sheep districts of England, AY ales and Scotland ; and 

 the most porous of our soils are much affected by the long 

 droughts which prevail here, — the growth of grass being greatly 

 lessened. Under this characteristic of our climate, some of the 



