24 



Committee on Sheep. 



Jonas L. Sibley, of Sutton, Chairman; Joshua W. Leland, of 

 Grafton ; Moses Kendall, of Barre ; Stephen Davis, of Ox- 

 ford ; Edward Howard, of Dudley. 



THE Committee on Sheep having attended to the duty assigned them^ 

 submit the following Report : — 



That this species of animals, presented for premium, was not in such 

 numbers, and most of them not of such properties as to exhibit a fair 

 sample of the flocks of the County. Though some of them were fine an- 

 imals, yet a large proportion were not of a superior quality. It is to be 

 lamented, that this class of animals, so important to our manufactures, 

 and so profitable to the farmer, when properly managed, should be so 

 feebly represented at our Exhibitions. The growing spirit of improve- 

 ment in agriculture, and the honourable emulation which exists among 

 the yeomanry of our County, in the rich display of Neat Stock at our 

 Shows, leads us to fear that our farmers, content with their superiority 

 in Neat Cattle, have neglected in some degree the improvement of their 

 Flocks^ to maintain the high reputation of their Herds. The present low 

 prices in the markets of all agricultural products, the increasing demand 

 for wool at our manufactories, together with the encouragement and pro- 

 tection afforded our wool-growers, by a late Act of Congress imposing an 

 additional duty on foreign wool, present strong inducements to the far- 

 mer to turn his attention to this branch of husbandry. The soil and cli- 

 mate of our County is peculiarly adapted to the rearing of Sheep, and 

 the eflbrts which have been and are now making, to introduce into our 

 country the best and choicest breed of fine-woolled Sheep, render it 

 Tnorally certain that the day is not far distant, when we could be as cel- 

 ebrated for the superiority of our Sheep as we are for the excellency of 

 our Cattle. 



Your Committee, after a careful examination and comparison, having 

 regard to the size of the animal, and more particularly the fineness and 

 quality of the fleece, have come to the conclusion and do award the fol- 

 lowing premiums : — 



For the best Merino Ram, to Joseph Thayer, of Uxbridge, $10 : 00 



For the next best do. do. to Isaac Mills, of Worcester, 5 : 00 

 For the four best Merino Ewes, to Benjamin N. Childs, of 



Worcester, 10 : 00 



For the next best do. do. to Stephen Marsh, jr. of Sutton, 5: 00 

 For the best lot of mixed Merino Sheep, to James Smith, 



of Rutland, 5 : 00 



For the best Native Ram, to Levi Jennison, of Shrewsbury, 6 :00 



For the best Native Ewes, to John Temple, of V\ est-Boylston, 4 : 00 



The Committee avail themselves of this opportunity to remark, that 

 the fine Saxon Ram, exhibited by the Hon. Judge Lincoln, claimed their 

 particular notice ; and from the general appearance of the animal, and 

 the quality of the fleece, we have no hesitation to say that this species 

 of sheep merits our particular attention as a valuable addition to our 

 flocks. The same gentleman's lot of Merino Ewes presented for exhibi- 

 tion only, were not inferior to any in the pens, and would have deserved 

 a premium, had any been claimed. Rejoice Newton, Esq. oi Worcester, 

 exliibitfcd four mixed IMerino Sheep, which were of a superior quality; 

 but the number was not sullicieut to entitle them to a premium. 



JONAS L. SIBLEY, Chairman. 



