AGRICULTURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 371 



lambs the first consideration, and the wool secondary (which 

 is medium, combing, and coarse), that we can produce from 

 larger and more profitable sheep, and which, sheep for sheep, 

 is worth more than the fine-woolled fleece. 



When the farmers in Franklin County can keep their 

 ewes for $1 in summer, and $2.50 in winter, with $2 for 

 the lamb's feed (making in all $5.50), and receive $1.60 for 

 the fleece and $7.70 for the lamb (counting twelve per cent 

 of twins), leaving, beside the old sheep, iiearly $4 net profit, 

 with a cord of the best manure for every ten sheep (to pay 

 for the labor of attending them), — who, comparing this with 

 sheep-keeping forty years ago, will say there has been any 

 decline in this branch of our agriculture ? 



SWINE. 



Another item of farm-stock, which has apparently decreased 

 in numbers, is swine. In 1845 we had 104,740 swine, ap- 

 praised at $917,435 (at $8.75 each) : in 1875 we had 41,255 

 hogs and 41,009 pigs, valued at $963,321 ; showing, that, by 

 our improved breeding and care, 21,485 less swine than were 

 kept in 1845 were in 1875 worth $45,886 more. 



In those d?kj& but little attention had been paid to the 

 breeding of hogs for fine points in this part of the country, 

 or, indeed, anywhere. The farmers had the Grassfed, or 

 Irish Graziers, from New York, the Mackay and the Byfield, 

 both which originated in the eastern part of our own State, 

 and which soon ran out because there was no fixity of type.. 

 Then the Berkshires were introduced about 1832 ; but they 

 did not, at that time, meet the expectations of breeders, 

 and fell into disfavor, though within the last dozen years 

 they have greatly improved. 



About 1844 the Suffolks were introduced by the Messrs. 

 Stickney of Boston, and have been of great service in fining 

 down our larger breeds of pigs. Since then we have had the 

 Chester Whites, the Poland China (or Magio), and the 

 Yorkshire, the last imported by the Massachusetts Society. 



Forty years ago farmers thought they did well in bringing 

 their hogs to dress 350 or 400 pounds at fifteen or sixteen 

 months old, while we make them, at that age, 500 to 550, or, 

 better still, at eight or nine months old we make them dress 

 250 to 300 pounds. 



