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CHAPTER XIV. 



CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 



In compiling this little book, I have drawn largely upon 

 the judgment and experience of the most intelligent and 

 successful sheep raisers in this country and of Europe, in 

 order to make it a book of reference for such of our farmers 

 who have not access to, or the leisure and opportunity to 

 consult the works of so many and varied authors. 



Some persons object to what they call "book farming." 

 What is book farming but the combined wisdom and knowl- 

 edge of the men who have given the subject the most care- 

 ful investigation and attention. As well might we exclude 

 books of instruction from our schools and colleges, if our 

 youth can teach themselves the arts and sciences without 

 them. How often do men cling to a false theory, or con- 

 tinue to pursue a wrong method of conducting their business 

 all their lives, for the want of a proper knowledge and un- 

 derstanding of the true ones ? It is a matter of almost daily 

 occurrence for persons to bring specimens of worthless rocks 

 to this office to be analysed, supposing, from some little shin- 

 ing particles they contain, they must contain some of the 

 precious rnetals. A little knowledge of geology and miner- 

 alogy would have taught them better and saved them the 

 loss of a good deal of time and trouble, besides disappointed 

 hopes and expectations. We must have brains on the farm 

 as well as muscle brains to plan and direct, muscle to ex- 

 ecute, an instructive as well as executive department. 

 The two cannot be successfully united to any great extent. 

 The man who toils and sweats at the plough through the 

 long summer's day, though he might wish that he could 

 find some easier method of turning over the sod, would 



