132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



In this case there were no lambs to be pastured, and the 

 ewes could be pastured for about one-half the cost of those 

 that have lambs, as lambs must have the best of pasture. 

 This flock of sheep was produced by crossing a Spanish 

 Merino ram upon grade Cotswold and Leicester ewes, and 

 those ewes will weigh from 125 to 150 pounds. They drop 

 their lambs very early, most of them in December ; and they 

 are ready for market early, and bring a better price than 

 those which are dropped later. 



Mr. Ware. It will be noticed, probably, that there has 

 been no credit given for the manure during this time, which 

 is a fair item of credit. 



Mr. Avery. I have offset the manure against the labor, 

 which is a very liberal allowance for the labor. I should be 

 very glad to take a thousand sheep and take care of them 

 for one-half the manure, if any one would furnish the hay 

 and grain. 



The Chairman. You mean to be liberal in your esti- 

 mates ? 



Mr. Avery. Yes, sir; I mean to be. 



Question. I would like to ask Mr. Avery, if he increased 

 his flock four or five fold, if he would get the same result as 

 from a smaller flock ? 



Mr. Avery. Probably not. Sheep will do better in 

 small flocks. I do not think the result would be as good 

 with a large flock. I think it is usually considered in that 

 light. 



Flock No. 3 consisted of 53 ewes, 6 lambs and 1 ram, 

 making 60 in all. The expenses were as follows : — 



Grain for sheep and lambs, 

 Hay, estimated at $2 per head, . 

 Pasturing 60 sheep 28 weeks, at 3 cents, 

 Service of ram, 



$104.50 



120.00 



50.40 



13.25 



$288.15 



Total 



The owner of this flock gave me an estimate of the expenses. 

 He said the grain which he fed to his sheep was kept separate, 

 so that he knew just what his grain cost him which he fed to 

 his sheep and lambs, and it amounted to the sum I have 

 given. I will say that he also raises what we term early 



