204 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



loss of two million sheep killed in this way, and one million 

 wounded. Still wc can do much by the enforcement of strin- 

 gent protective laws. 



In winter and spring, as well as in summer, the sheep deserve 

 our attention. Give them good dry barns or sheds, with plenty 

 of room, sunlight and ventilation, and a variety of food in the 

 winter ; wash them early in the season, in a stream of running 

 water, if possible, and shear them from a week to ten days 

 afterwards. 



We recommend the pursuit of this branch of husbandry, 

 both as a source of income and of pleasure. What more useful 

 animals to reclaim our old pastures, what more beautiful animals 

 to grace them, once reclaimed ? How could the commissioners 

 of the Central Park in the great city of New York have better 

 enriched the beautiful lawns than by the flocks of South Downs 

 which graze upon them ? How can we better add to the profit 

 and beauty of our own farms than by the flocks which feed 

 upon their hillsides ? 



It is gratifying to note the increasing interest manifested in 

 this neighborhood in the raising of sheep, and it is becoming 

 this society to further the efforts of the farmers in this direction 

 in every proper way. 



Arthur Lincoln, Chairman. 



POULTRY. 



LIIDDLESEX NORTH. 



Front the Report of the Committee. 

 Something was said last year regarding the construction of 

 coops ; we noticed some improvement, but they were hardly up 

 to the mark this year. At the New Hampshire State Fair, we 

 noticed that a majority were made after the following manner : 

 Make of matched boards two squares exactly alike of the re- 

 quired size ; around the outside nail on pieces four inches wide, 

 run a gauge mark through the centre of the pieces, and bore 

 three-quarter holes, three inclies apart, all around on this mark. 

 Get a quantity of stair rounds, and saw them as long as the 



