SHEEP. 209 



We regret that those who exhibited their sheep did not give 

 us a more particular account of their mode of keeping tliem, 

 and of the income of their flocks. 



We would not close this report without calling the attention 

 of farmers to the effect of sheep upon farms. We are satisfied 

 that if they are permitted to roam over the farm in early 

 spring, they do a great injury to the young grass. We have 

 sometimes thought that the manure in winter was not so valu- 

 able as that made from the same food given to cows, because 

 sheep should be kept out in the air more than cows, and this 

 exposes it to waste ; as to the pasture, some say they injure it 

 by biting too close. We have begun the experiment in trying 

 to reclaim, by sheep, about twenty acres of rough, rocky, 

 bushy pasture. I have noticed that they do not eat the huckle- 

 berry bush ; but are fond of the berries when they begin to 

 ripen. The blueberry bush they eat much ; the sweet-fern 

 they do not eat except • very early in spring ; the butter-cup 

 they like ; the indigo-weed at some seasons they will eat ; briars, 

 when young, they eat ; the barberry bush, where they can 

 reach, they kill in a short time. 



How long it will take to make a very decisive improvement 

 in such a pasture as this, 1 cannot tell at present ; we begun 

 with the expectation that it would require five years of close 

 feeding to effect a very permanent change. 



Wm. R, Putnam, Chairman. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From, the Report of the Committee. 



It seems to be an established fact that the pastures in this 

 vicinity are not as good as they were once. In them bushes 

 and briars more easily take the places of some of the best 

 grasses ; they need ploughing oftener and require larger appli- 

 cations of manure to make them hold good, and it is said they 

 need almost constant care and labor to keep them from running 

 out. 



As this is a matter in which all farmers are more or less 

 interested, your committee deemed it of sufficient importance 

 to consider what bearing sheep-husbandry had on this subject, 



27 



