382 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



avoiding frightening, hastily driving, or otherwise worrying the flock. Great 

 care sljould be observed that no liay or chaify straw is carried on their backs 

 to encumber the wool, for once there no amount of washing will take it out, 

 and although not as unsightly as burrs, it is more diHicult to se])arato from the 

 fleece. 



After having proceded thus far, you may readily perceive that my favorite is 

 the merino, and the ]nn-cr the blood the better. As may be seen by reference 

 to the statistics of Michigan, compiled from the census of 1870, the average 

 yield of fleece per head was a fraction over 4.46 pounds. 



Berrien county has done comparatively little towards cultivating the merino, 

 and when any improvement has been made, it hes been counteracted by cross- 

 ing with larger breeds. In that county in 1870, the 25,051 slieep, yielded 

 90,309 pounds of wool, or a fraction less than 3.47 per head. 



Van Buren, with 32,884 sheep, yielded 120,676 pounds, or 3.65 per head. 



Cass county, a fraction over 3.97 pounds per head. 



Kalamazoo, 3.92. 



St. Joseph, 4.33. 



Branch, 4.20. 



Calhoun, 4,38. 



Jackson, 4.75. 



Hillsdale, 4.49. 



J^enawee, 4.92. 



"Washtenaw, 4.75. 



Macomb, 4.95. 



From the Country Gentleman we learn that the average yield in the State 

 of New York in 1874, av as 4.95. The greatest number of fleeces produced in any- 

 one county was in Ontario, which gave an average of over 6.02. The lowest 

 average in any county of the State, the same year, was 3.47 lbs. 



The above comparison of the average yield of wool in the various localities, 

 is evidence that where the most attention has been given to high breeding, the 

 balance sheet is in their favor. For instance, when we compare the county of 

 Berrien with Macomb, we find the balance to be 1.48 in favor of the latter, 

 which in eight years, or what is estimated as the average age of stock sheep, 

 amounts to a difference, at thirty cents per pound, of $3.55 per head, an 

 amount ju'obably above the average price of stock sheep in that county. 



There is no reason why this locality may not, with the same care and atten- 

 tion given to breeding, attain as high a standard of excellence, as regards both 

 quality and quantity, as Lenawee or Macomb, or even that of Ontario county, 

 N. Y. 



Many intelligent farmers assert with much confidence that they consider feed 

 of more importance than breed, but a judicious system exacts close attention 

 to both. 



In the matter of breeding, there is no middle ground to take, we must either 

 advance or recede. One carelos.s, injudicious cross will fre((ucntly counteract 

 years of judicious breeding. Care of the flocks during the time of yeaning, is- 

 an item not to be lost sight of. A few hours' absence from the flock frequently 

 endangers the life of several lambs, and in many instances that of the ewe, 

 which the expenditure of a few moments' care at the i)ropcr time might avert. 



Goitre in lambs was much more prevalent a few years since than now. Doc- 

 tors disagree as to the cause of this disease or defect. My own experience and 

 observation prompts me to believe that it is the result of inflammation in the 

 gums, produced by inability to cut the teeth, communicated to the glands of 



