m$ BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 



dred and thirty-nine pounds of milk the third week in June, 

 making fifteen and nine-fifteenths pounds of butter. 



The fifth premium, to Walter Richards, of Lenox, six dol- 

 lars. This cow furnished the third week in June, three hun- 

 dred and eight pounds of milk, making fourteen and seven- 

 sixteenths pounds of butter. 



The sixth premium, to George W. Goodrich, of Pittsfield, 

 five dollars. 



NELSON STRONG, Chairman. 



Sheep. 



All of the lots of sheep examined, gave strong evidence that 

 there is an improvement going on in the county; but the com- 

 mittee see ample " verge and scope " for greater excellence. 

 They are of opinion that there ought to be a greater improve- 

 ment in the weight of fleece. The probable average amount 

 produced in this county, for the last ten years, does not exceed 

 three pounds to the fleece, which is far below what it ought to 

 be, to make the growing of wool a profitable business, in view 

 of the price which has been realized for it. That it is as easy 

 to produce four or five, six or seven pounds of fine and pure 

 wool to the fleece, does not, in our opinion, admit of a doubt ; 

 provided there is proper attention paid to the matter. 



In making this improvement, it is not recommended that it 

 be done wholly by increasing the size of sheep, but that there 

 be a greater per cent, of wool from sheep of the present size. 

 No wool grower ought to be satisfied with his improvement, 

 unless his flock yields one pound of fine pure wool to every 

 ten or twelve pounds of carcass. It may be thought that this 

 calculation is beyond what can be effected, but it is fair to sup- 

 pose that what has been done, can be done again, and what one 

 man can do, can also be done by another. We have it from 

 good authority, that the flock of A. L. Bingham, of Vermont, 

 produces a yield of one pound of wool to every seven or eight 

 pounds of carcass. 



EDWARD CHEESMAN, Chairman. 



