210 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and therefore they made the followhig inquiries of the principal 

 sheep-raisers of their acquaintance : — 



1st. Is it better for pasture lands to have sheep kept on them 

 than any other kind of stock ? 



2d. Do you know from your own experience that sheep will 

 eradicate bushes, or in any way improve the pastures in which 

 they are kept ? 



The answers which were received to the above questions 

 were prompt and sufficient, and as they contain the views of 

 practical men who have had long experience in the business, 

 your committee are pleased to place them before the society. 



Ilosea M. Caswell says : " I notice sheep always rest on the 

 highest parts of the pasture, and spend more of the time on the 

 hills than cattle, consequently the manure is more evenly dis- 

 tributed. Sheep also require such a variety of food they will 

 even kill out hardbacks and thistles." 



James Mclntire says: "There is no stock like sheep to renew 

 old pastures. I know clover to come in and bushes to die out 

 in pastures where they have been kept." 



Joel Hay ward says : " I am well satisfied that sheep do mate- 

 rially improve pasture lands, not only from my own experience, 

 but from what I have observed of pasture land where they have 

 been kept in this vicinity. I have had sheep for nearly twenty 

 years in one pasture, and am confident that it will keep one- 

 third more and keep them equally well, as when first used for 

 that purpose. I remember an instance near here where a piece 

 of land had become quite thickly covered with a growth of 

 white birch ; these were cut close with a scythe and then sheep 

 were turned in, which (perhaps for want of better feed,) kept 

 the young shoots fed down and cleared the pasture of brush." 



Mr. Hayward does not believe in compelling sheep to become 

 " bush exterminators," but says " give them clover and other 

 sweet grasses, give them as good as you have, and if you have 

 used proper judgment in the selection of your flock, you are 

 well insured of a good profit." 



George Fox says : " I believe in a mixed stock for a pasture ; 

 used to think it would not do to have sheep and cattle go 

 together, but now I am satisfied both will do better, provided 

 you give them plenty of feed. It is cruel and unprofitable to 

 keep sheep so short as to compel them to eat bushes," but he 



