NEW ENGLAND FARMING. 39 



Ayrsliire, for example, and to render the land more productive 

 of food to keep that stock, and thus more productive of manures 

 to add in turn to its own fertility — than that any of the stock 

 you are now keeping should be discarded to make way for 

 sheep. The truth is that good farming tends so explicitly 

 and so universally to increased favor for mutton growing, that 

 I cannot but think it is that direction which the improvement 

 of our agriculture at the East must take before our farmers 

 can hope to accomplish much more than they are already 

 doing. 



For you will please note that it is not with the most remote 

 reference to the present liigh prices of wool, that I speak. 

 The cheaper lands of Michigan and Wisconsin, and when the 

 Union is re-united, of Texas also, can grow wool as fine as we 

 can grow it here, and send it to market with as little, or still 

 less, loss from the cost of transportation, as any other product 

 they can raise. It is the breeding of mutton sherp that is 

 suffering most from neglect, yielding an income every year, 

 involving some profit, from 'the fleece, which cannot be had 

 from cattle, and selling at last to the butcher at a rate that 

 shall return at least as good results upon the food and labor 

 they have cost, as can be yielded in fattening beef. 



Now among the breeds suggesting themselves for the pur- 

 pose, there is considerable range for selection. The South 

 Down has the advantage that its name goes far in commanding 

 a price, like that of Alderney butter, with those who can appre- 

 ciate and are disposed to pay for it. But the Oxford Downs 

 which have been introduced into tlie neighboring county of 

 Essex by my friend, Mr. Fay, are a somewhat larger sheep, 

 which, with their other merits, is constantly gaining them 

 increased favor in Great Britain. The Cotswolds give perhaps 

 still greater size, and on good pasturage yield a good account 

 for all they consume, while, moreover, you have flocks of them 

 in your own vicinity worthy of encouragement. The ''Leices- 

 ter" sheep bred in this country have mostly a touch of Lincoln 

 or Cotswold blood to increase their weight, and are preferred 

 by some to the pure Cotswold. 



In breeding both sheep and cattle, then, let me insist once 

 more upon the importance of crossing constantly with some of 

 the improved breeds that have been named. There must be 



