1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 63 



Mr. Parsons of Southampton. Is there any advantage 

 or disadvantage in keeping cattle and sheep in the same 

 pasture ? 



Mr. Avery. I think, perhaps, the sheep will get the best 

 of it. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Edwards of Southampton, County Commissioner of 

 Hampshire County. What is the fair average price of sheep 

 in Massachusetts? When sheep are destroyed by dogs the 

 selectmen prize them all along from four dollars to ten dol- 

 lars, and sometimes as high as twelve dollars. 



Mr. AvERr. Well, I should say four dollars a head. I 

 do not think that the sheep in our town are appraised, on 

 an average, by the assessors at more than that. Mine are 

 not. 



Mr. BowDiTCH of Framingham. I would suggest that 

 the value of a sheep that is killed by a dog depends entirely 

 on the time of year, and whether she is safe in lamb. The 

 value of the lamb, with the proper amount deducted for its 

 keep, ought to be added to the value of the sheep ; and, 

 according to Mr. Avery's statement, four dollars, which is 

 very moderate, would make it eleven dollars. If it was 

 later in the season, and had on four or five pounds of wool, 

 that ought to make a difference. His price is four dollars 

 just after shearing. 



Mr. Avery. Yes, sir. I will say, in regard to all my 

 statements, that I intend ito keep within the limits of average 

 experience. 



Mr. Sessions. I hope the audience will understand Mr. 

 Avery's estimate is four dollars a head when he starts with 

 them in August. 



Mr. Harding. I think Mr. Avery has put the price low, 

 rather than high. I know a year and a half ago I had an 

 order to get fifty good young ewes at six dollars a head 

 to deliver, and I could not get them. 



Mr. Searle of Northampton. I noticed that when the 

 gentleman came to balance his books he said nothing about 

 the item of the care of the sheep. 



Mr. Avery. Yes, sir. The manure balances the care, 

 and that is very good pay. I would like to take care of 

 them for the manure if somebody would find the feed. 



