Xii'Z AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM 



(g) Few Sheep keep their prime longer than seven 

 years. It depends much on their treatment ; but at this 

 age, they generally begin to decHne. — None will bear to 

 be full fatted, and suffered to go lean at any age ; they 

 always perish with disease, when this happens. The 

 average weight of the tallow, is aboiit one eighth of tlip 

 Sheep, if the Sheep is well fattecl. 



The time of 'yeaning, is generally from the middle of 

 February, to the end of May,— the most are lambed in 

 March and April, — spmp ai'g dropped at Christmas. — 

 They are as well covered with wool, as is common with 

 lambs of other countries. — It is rare, for a (h) ewe to lamb 

 twice a year, although I have known it to happen. A 

 ^Trrodigious number of Sheep, could be raised by every 

 farmer keeping a few, say a score at most, to a common 

 sized farm, and these could be well attended to, without 

 injury to the common affairs of the farm. 



.(;■) Premiums given by Government or from private 

 subscription funds, under, the direction of the Agficuitu- 

 ral Societies, which are spreading themselves through 

 every part of the United States, would assist in the at- 

 tainment of what is most wanted, a (k) perfect breed, of 

 Domestic Animals, Horses, Cattle and Sheep, included. 

 Emulation, would be set at work, and the laudable pride 

 of excelling each other, would stimulate intelligent and 

 attentive farmers to this kind of exertion. — A breed thus 

 obtained, will exceed any importation ; the animal will 

 be assimilated to our climate, in which there are some 

 peculiarities, not favourable to all imported breeds, or 

 their progeny unmixed — (Z) As to the food, it is of the 

 same nature in most countries. Sheep are close biters, 

 and great consumers of pasture. The shorter ^nd drier, 

 the herbage in summer, the better ; in winter, they re- 

 quire, in addition to Hay, Indian Corn, Tops and Blades, 

 and other dry Fodder, and some succulent food, but our 

 snows forbid the turnip fodder extensively. — I had one 

 winter a great quantity of the root of Scarcity, and my 

 Sheep were never more thriving. When snows lie iong» 

 the branches of the pine, have a surprising eflect in pre^ 



