FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 331 



Having said thus much of Sheep in general, something 

 shall now be said of the Merino Sheep in particular. 



These Sheep are certainly much the most profitable to 

 raise, where the soil and climate are suitable to them. 

 Perhaps it may be found that some parts ot this State may 

 not be so suitable for them as others; as some Farmers of 

 this county (IdUrkimer) are making complaints ot being un- 

 successful in rearing them. The climate, and much of the 

 soil, ot the Mohawk country is moist, and this circumstance 

 may perhaps not prove so favorable for their propagation 

 here. 



Let experiments, however, be fairly and fully made upon 

 them, belore any hasty conclusions are drawn. Most ot the 

 Sheep ot this kind which have been brought into this part 

 et the State were young, and such as were probably re* 

 footed from the flocks ot those who sent them abroad for 

 sale. 



Mr Livingston has stated the result of his Sheepshearing 

 of the Spung ot 1808, and this will perhaps serve to convey 

 as adequate an idea of the importance of the Merino Sheep, 

 as any thing that can be said 



From twenty- nine common Sheep, he had upwards of one 

 hundred and fourteen pounds, which he sold at thirty-seven 

 and an halt cents per pound. This, allowing one dollar and 

 fitiy cents tor the expense of keeping each Sheep for a 

 year, fell short three cents on each fleece of paying for their 

 keeping. 



Eighty- three half- blooded Ewes gave upwards of three 

 hundred and ninety-three pounds; and forty seven half- 

 blooded Wethers gave upwards of two hundred and thirty- 

 six pounds. This wool sold for seventy-five cents per 

 pound. Clear profits on the fleece of each Ewe two dollars 

 and three cents ; on the fleece of each Wether, two dollars 

 and fiity-five cents. 



Tniny threefourth- blooded Ewes gave upwards of one 

 hundred and fifty-six pounds; and three Wethers of the 

 same blood gave upwards of sixteen pounds. This wool 

 sold for one dollar and twenty- five cents per pound. Clear 

 profits on the fleece of each Ewe four dollars and seventy- 

 five cents; on the fleece of each Wether, two dollars and 

 twenty-five cents. 



Seven fulibred Ewes gave upwards of thirty-six pounds ; 

 and one Ram, fourteen months old, gave upwards of nine 

 pounds. This wool sold ior two dollars per pound. Clear 

 profits on the fleece of each Ewe eight dollars and seventy- 

 five cents; on the Ram, seventeen dollars and twenty-five 

 cents. This Wool was all sold at the above prices, without 

 being washed. 



