124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and by a system of coddling and stuffing from the time that 

 *the lambs are born until they are slaughtered, England keeps 

 nearly one-half as many sheep as the whole of the United 

 States. 



It is a scientific fact that when animals or plants are removed 

 from their natural districts to one entirely different in climate 

 and general conditions some surprising changes take place; 

 almost immediately after the removal is made they change their 

 character and habits to conform with their new homes, or else 

 cease to exist or degenerate rapidly. 



The millionaire farmers of New England have discovered 

 that it is not only necessary to keep the English breeds of 

 sheep in the same way that they are kept in England, but to 

 employ skillful shepherds who have had experience in the man- 

 agement of sheep in the old country. 



The digestive organs of a sheep are larger in proportion to 

 its size than those of any other animal, and for that reason it 

 is necessary that it be fed largely on bulky food, and the 

 change from green, bulky food to dry, concentrated feed should 

 be very gradual. When fed upon dry, concentrated food their 

 digestive organs become contracted, and the sheep is in an 

 unnatural condition, and diseases set in which make the sheep 

 of little or no value. 



It is a common saying among sheepmen that where thorough- 

 breds are turned in with grades they will all die within a year. 

 Now it is accounted for in this way, that the grades are de- 

 scendants of a hardy breed of sheep, and each generation makes 

 them better acclimated and accustomed to New England con- 

 ditions. 



I will now give the value and annual income of some of the 

 breeds of sheep kept in northern Vermont and New Hamp- 

 shire. 



Lambert Bros., New Hampshire, merinoes; number of ewes, 53; value 



per head, |4; amiual income per ewe, S4.50. 

 James Brock, Vermont, merinoes; number of ewes, 110; value per head, 



$3.50; annual income per head, S4. 

 P. S. Cline, Vermont, Delaine merinoes; number of ewes, 78; value per 



head, $5; annual income per head, $5.50. 

 C. Rossiter, New Hampshire, Shropshire; number of ewes, 20; value 



per head, $12; annual income per head, $12. 



