LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 295 



Their great weight aud early maturity has been attained by excellent care and 

 feeding as -yvell as judicious selection and intelligent crossing. They have 

 been imported to some extent into the United States and have sustained their 

 reputation on the other side of the Atlantic. On rich soils, or where feed is 

 abundant, they will give a great weight of mutton at an early age. "We are 

 not aware that there are any in this State. 



The Southdowns are too light of wool to ever become very popular in this 

 country, although they are the best mutton in the world. Lincolns and 

 Leicesters can easily be brought to 100 or 120 pounds dressed at one year old 

 (for mutton). Sheep in order to do well, especially long-wooled sheep, should 

 never be kept in close houses. They should have a good airy shed into which 

 they can go in stormy weather ; not too close, because the moisture from their 

 breaths is all absorbed by the wool, and proves injurious. 1 think in almost 

 every instance the instinct of the animal is the best guide, and they will seek 

 shelter as the storm comes on. 



As to profits of sheep raising, I will give you the figures of the Agricultural 

 Commission of Ontario, where the estimate is made for mutton, and where 

 the price is put at a minimum. Take a shearliug wether: 



"Weight 160 pounds, fit 5i^ cents per pound $8 SO 



Wool 7 pounds, at 35 cents per pound 2 45 



$11 25 



Value of manure when fed on turnips 75 



Total value $12 00 



Cost. 



Proportion of sire's services $ 50 



Mother's keeping during milk 2 25 



Extra food from March to October 1 15 



Grazing 20 



Winter keeping 2 25 



Washing and clipping 10 



ProDortion of casualties, etc 1 00 



|7 45 



Profit |4 55 



75 



S3 SO^^ 



But the aim of Michigan farmers should not be alone the raising of sheep for 

 mutton, but also to supply the demand for large sheep in the west to cross the 

 stock already in the ranches there, and by breeding the right stock we could 

 get the trade that is almost exclusively managed by Ontario to-day. Well- 

 bred ewe lambs of either the Leicester or Lincoln type will average nine dol- 

 dollars to twenty dollars for the farmer in the fall, and I do not know of any- 

 thing that will pay better. 



DISCUSSION". 



Secretary R. G. Baird believed that some of the Michigan flocks were as 

 good as any in the world, and cited the case of an ewe of Mr. A. D. Taylor's 

 that gave a fleece weighing twenty-seven pounds. 



Mr. Porter thought that the figures in Judge Stickney's paper were much 

 too high. If the people present could be made to believe that such figures 

 could be realized in practice, all would go at it. He believed in in-and-in 

 breeding. 



