90 BOARD -OF AGRICULTURE. 



lambs, and always get fit for market; average price from $2 to 

 $3 per head." 



Many otlicr extracts might be given, from letters coming 

 from Western Massachusetts, but enough has been said to show 

 the general interest felt there in this subject. It is to be hoped 

 that farmers in the eastern counties will try the raising of 

 sheep to some extent, at least. They will find that fine mutton 

 is profitable, even if fine wool is not. 



The South Downs seem to have the preference with those 

 who raise only for the market, and some very fine speci- 

 mens of this breed are to be found in the eastern counties. 

 The French Merinos have recently been introduced into other 

 sections, and though they have not yet been long enough tried 

 to make it possible to estimate precisely their comparative 

 value, they have already received no small share of attention. 



Swine. 



Probably no one of our domestic animals has been more im- 

 proved than the swine. Importations have been many and 

 frequent, and cither pure bloods or grades of the different 

 breeds are widely distributed in every county in the State. 

 The number of these animals has considerably decreased how- 

 ever, if official statistics are to be relied on ; for we find that 

 in 1840, there were 90,335, while in 1850, only 73,041 were 

 reported, showing a decrease in the ten years, of 17,294. 

 There has probably been a great increase since 1850. 



This animal comes to maturity in so much less time than the 

 horse or the cow, that any breed supposed to be better than 

 others, soon becomes widely known, and is appreciated as it 

 deserves. There are, indeed, few animals so susceptible of 

 change and improvement in the hands of the breeder, partly for 

 the reason named, and partly because it easily and quickly 

 adapts itself to the circumstances in which it is placed. 



The hog was brought here by the early settlers, and was one 

 of the most profitable animals they could have. Its power and 

 habit of providing for itself, when left to range freely, as it 

 was at that time, with little care on the part of the owner, 

 made it an object of special regard with them. No par- 

 ticular attention was paid to breeding, however, till towards 



