38 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



For a number of years after the practice of importing 

 Merino sheep was begun the society's publications had 

 much to offer of advice and discussion as to wool and the 

 raising of sheep for the shambles, etc. One writer in 

 1813 naively begins his essay thus : " The present high 

 prices of sheep are to be ascribed principally to two 

 causes : First, the number of speculators in the market 

 who buy to sell again ; and, secondly, to the prevalent 

 erroneous practice in breeding." He goes on to criticize 

 the practice, saying that " hitherto, unfortunately, the 

 finest sheep have been selected for the butcher and the 

 poorest, only, kept for breeding." He gives reasons for 

 reversing the practice, but does not suggest any remedy 

 for the other cause of high prices paid by consumers, 

 which, as respects various farm products, has not yet 

 wholly ceased to be lamented. 



In 1814 a letter from Justin Ely of Springfield, one of 

 the most intelligent contributors and members, was pub- 

 lished in the Journal recommending the cultivation of 

 rhubarb to save the cost of medicine, for which the im- 

 ported root was used ; and he speaks of his own success 

 with some roots which had been sent to him by Charles 

 Vaughan of Kennebec. In printing the letter the editor 

 declares that there are two kinds of rhubarb, and re-iter- 

 ates by saying, '< we are satisfied we are right,' 7 and then 

 adds that that which his correspondent has received is 

 probably not the true medicinal root, though it may have 

 some value in that way. His reason for this opinion was 

 that Mr. Vaughan had given to friends in Boston speci- 

 mens of the other kind of rhubarb, the stalks of which, 

 the editor says, are " equal or superior to gooseberry, as a 

 preserve for tarts." The phrase indicates a suspense of 

 judgment as to whether the edible was liable to supercede 

 the gooseberry or not. Evidently neither Mr. Vaughan 

 nor his Boston contemporaries suspected the commercial 

 value of this garden novelty, nor had any prophetic vision 

 of the staggering wains that now daily, in the season, go 



