SHEEP. 109 



SHEEP. 



WORCESTER NORTH-WEST. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The greatest hindrance to sheep-raising, is that universal 

 nuisance — the dog. The committee think that ninety-nine 

 out of every one hundred of all the dogs in the State should 

 be destroyed, unless the State provides a home for the 

 wandering night-thieves, as in London, in 1873, where 30,- 

 000 were shut up until the owners claimed and paid for their 

 wandering canines. 



"The dogs licked the blood of Naboth and fed upon Jezebel 

 by the wall of Jezreel." "The shepherd saw the lean dogs 

 beyond the wall hold over the dead their carnival, gorging 

 and growling on carcase and limb, and they were too busy to 

 bark at him." 



In the civilized nations, there are supposed to be about 

 373,000,000 of sheep, and in the United States about 41,- 

 000,000, which average $2.28 per head. The largest number 

 in any one State is 6,250,000, in Ohio — average price, $1.93 ; 

 the smallest number is in Florida, 10,500 — average price, 

 $2; highest average price is in New Jersey, $4.42, and. 

 $4.41 in Connecticut ; in Texas and Missouri, average price 

 is $1.70. In Massachusetts there are about 156,000 sheep, 

 average price $3.28. There are in the United States a large 

 number of breeds of sheep. The Cots wold is generally pre- 

 ferred in the West, because of its good size and constitution, 

 and the length and quality of wool. In Vermont, the Lincolns, 

 which are of great size, are regarded as best to pasture on the 

 luxuriant blue-grass in the Atlantic States, where early lambs 

 are raised. The Southdowns and grade Merino give general 

 satisfaction, while some prefer the Leicesters, as first of all, 

 in early maturity and the amount of flesh for the food con- 



