90 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



England. There is no obstacle to the production of it in 

 greater quantity, and it is the opinion of many who have 

 devoted their attention to the subject, that the substitution 

 of mutton for pork, to a considerable extent, would be favor- 

 able to health. 



" The breeds of sheep best adapted to this section, are those 

 which afford mutton at the least expense. The demand for 

 mutton is increasing, and the nearer the market it can be pro- 

 duced, the greater the saving in transportation. The cost of 

 transporting wool is comparatively trifling ; it can be brought 

 from the most remote of our Western States for about a cent 

 per pound, or two per cent, on its value, if of fair quality 

 Merino. Hence those breeds kept chiefly for wool, will occupy 

 the cheap lands of the interior, while the best breeds for mutton 

 will be kept nearer the great markets. 



" The first sheep of New England were brought chiefly from 

 England by the early settlers, and were the foundation of the 

 stock bred here for two hundred years. It is impossible to 

 say to what breeds they originally belonged. Their descend- 

 ants had long ago lost all evidence of any affinity with any 

 British breed. They afforded mutton of medium quality, and 

 wool which answered for the ordinary domestic purposes of the 

 country people, before the modern refinement of taste in dress 

 was introduced. The importation and establishment of the 

 Spanish or Merino breed caused the disappearance of the old 

 English stock, and it is very difficult to find any of them which 

 have not been crossed. But the Merino is now giving way, in 

 turn, to British breeds, in all the eastern portion of the country. 

 This change is caused chiefly by the increasing demand for 

 mutton, — the Merino not being a good mutton sheep. It does 

 not give the thickness and weight of flesh, in proportion to the 

 bone, that is afforded by several of the English and Scotch 

 breeds. When fatted, the amount of fat, especially the inter- 

 nal fat, is too large in proportion to the lean, and there is 

 little mixture of the two ; while the flavor of the meat is 

 not as good as that of most British breeds. 



" The general division of English sheep is into long and short 

 woolled breeds. Of the former, the principal are the Leicester, 

 (formerly New Leicester, Bakcwell, Dishley,) the Cotswold, 

 Lincolnshire, and the Kent or Romney Marsh breeds. The 



