FAKMEES' IXSTITUTES. 89 



bee keeping. I have now prcseuted both sides of this interesting subject, and I 

 leave for you, each for himself, to answer the question, "Shall farmers keep 

 bees?" 



I will only say in conclusion, that among the requisites of a successful bee- 

 keeper are undoubted courage, steady nerves, a fair share of mechanical skill, 

 habits of close observation, orderly, and prompt to do the right thing at the 

 right time, and in the right manner ; and above all an unflagging enthusiasm in 

 the calling. If any one feels that he has these requisites, and has the heart and 

 the purse to take the risks of the drawbacks that I have mentioned, I would say 

 invest in bees. If not, he had better buy his honey at one dollar a pound. 



Mr. Wm. Gumming of Ganges was next called upon, who read the following 

 essay on 



LONG-WOOLED SHEEP. 



One advantage that sheep possess over other varieties of stock is that the car- 

 cass can be disposed of for mutton at any age, and costs no more to produce 

 than other kinds of meat, while the fleece will usually pay all the cost of keep- 

 ing ; and as both items, the wool and the carcass, are sources of profit, both 

 items demand the attention of the sheejvbreeder. The sheep that will combine 

 in the same animal both these qualities in perfection is the sheep demanded by. 

 the farmer. "While the Merino, as is generally acknowledged, has the superior 

 claim in respect to one class of wool, I shall endeavor to show that the Cotswold, 

 Lincoln, and other long-wooled sheep have claims which should not bo over- 

 looked by the farmer. I am satisfied that the wandering Merino, weighing- 

 one hundred pounds, will consume about as much food as the lazy Ootswold 

 weighing 200 pounds ; also that the long-wooled sheep are the most profitable, 

 especially on lov.^ lands where there are coarse grasses. They are just the kind 

 to improve such lands. They will thrive on rank, coarse food, bringing in white 

 clover, and doubling its value in a short time. In regard to my experience since 

 I have lived in Michigan : I commenced with two ewes and two lambs. The 

 ewes were in very low condition, ;ind one showed symptoms of illness ; but they 

 were the best I could get. The ill one died, leaving me with but one ewe and 

 the two lambs ; the lambs did well, but the old ewe never bred after I got her. 

 She throve well, and got very fat. I kept her two years and bvitchered her, and 

 she dressed 112 lbs. . The first year I do not remember the amount of v,'ool, but 

 the second year I sheared 24 lbs. When it was washed and carded I had 18 lbs. 

 .of rolls which made ITf lbs. of yarn. This, at $1 25 a pound, would amount 

 to $22 29, or $7 -13 per sheep. Deduct 25 cents per pound for carding and 

 spinning, and you have 817 75, or per sheep, 85 01-|. The two young ewes 

 had a lamb apiece, which were worth at least $3 each, making |8 91 the product 

 of each ewe that year. The next year I had seven fleeces, vfhich gave me 50-} 

 lbs. of clean wool which I sold for 125 32 ; and I raised six lambs from four 

 ewes, which, at $3 apiece, would be worth 818, making the total |13 32, which 

 I think is doing as well as any short-wooled flock of equal number ; and if sold, 

 they would bring three times what Merinos Avould. I feed clover hay, cut when 

 in full bloom, and cured in the cock, I have fed a little corn, but find that it 

 has a tendency to loosen the v/ool. Peas are the best grain. I do- not intend 

 to feed any grain this year. I shall depend on hay and roots. I have never 

 found any difficulty in bringing my sheep through the winter in good condition. 

 In breeding, I find by observation that lambs dropped in March or May are 



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