LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 155 



While the fall pasturing of young clover seeding is considered as of doubt- 

 ful expediency in theory, yet in practice it is quite commonly done. If the 

 clover has obtained a good growth and you will feed it, you can turn no stock 

 upon it which will do less injury than sheep. Especially is this true when the 

 earth is softened by the fall rains, as from their lighter weight they do not 

 poach the ground, leaving indentations filled or partly filled with water to 

 freeze, causing the young plant to be more subject to the heaving process of 

 the frosts. 



I do not wish to be considered as offering a premium on poor fences, but as a 

 matter of fact it requires the least excuse of a fence to confine respectable 

 sheep of any stock we have. Throwing or pushing down of fences by them is 

 a thing unknown, and the jumping of anything like a reasonable apology for 

 a fence, is a pastime they scarcely ever indulge in. 



It is probably needless at this stage of my paper to inform you that in my 

 opinion sheep have many qualities which merit our approbation, and make 

 them a very desirable acquisition to the farm. There are other points of con- 

 sideration which might be discussed with favorable results to their interests, 

 but possibly you may think if my bow was mildly drawn that it is a pretty long 

 one; if so, remember the aforesaid committee strung it, and I owe you no 

 apology. 



One suggestion and I am done. I have endeavored to speed my missile 

 straight for the mark, and fancy my shot is fairly close; but if owing to an 

 obscure vision it has deflected and I am clinging to a delusive dream, it is your 

 prerogative and duty to inform me of the "error of my ways," and help to 

 pull the wool from over my eyes. 



FINE WOOL SHEEP. 



BY A. CRAWrOKD. 

 [Read at Eaton Rapids Institute.] 



After speaking upon the early history of fine wool sheep Mr. Crawford con- 

 tinued : It is said that a man must be born to the business of his life before 

 he can expect success to crown his efforts. The man who expects to achieve 

 success with a choice flock of pure bred aheep, must have a natural liking for 

 sheep. He must never tire in serving them, in all ways that will tend to pro- 

 mote their thrift and comfort, must have patience and perseverance to work 

 out the model, form, and qualities his artist mind must have drawn from the 

 good and fancy points of his flocks around him. In fact he must be a born 

 sheep man ere he can expect to compete with those already in the field. 



Now as I have not felt myself competent to care for and improve this class 

 of pure bred fine wool sheep, I have confined my attention to the grade 

 Merino, a very good kind of sheep, and to my mind when properly bred, fed, 

 and handled upon the farm are the best paying property the farmer can keep. 

 They may also be called one of the farmer's best helpers in the fields. In 

 summer how nicely they clear out our fence corners of grass and weeds, our 

 uncultivated lands of briars and bushes, how they nip every green thing from 

 our fellows, and in winter work up our surplus hay, grain and coarse fodder 



