SECRETARY'S REPORT. 279 



cleaner, and relish hay of a poorer quality than he ever knew 

 them before. 



Mr. Pratt, of Middleborough, brought up to plain farming 

 wi'th native stock, agrees with Mr. Thompson in his experience 

 of Jersey stock. The profit in breeding blooded animals is so 

 much larger than tliat from native stock, so called, that we are 

 astonished that our farmers are content with the mere infusion 

 of blood, at least while the demand continues. The expense in 

 all except the first cost is the same in either case, while the 

 difference in profit is very large, compared with the increase of 

 capital. 



Swine. 



The prevalence of the hog disease in drove animals has ren- 

 dered the raising of swine of great importance in this county. 

 Many farmers, in some sections, have engaged in it, and yet the 

 demand is but partially supplied at large prices. An infusion of 

 the Chester County blood is generally preferred, and pigs of five 

 weeks old have sold rapidly for $5 to $8 each. In Bridgewater 

 and West Bridgewater more pork is raised than is consumed in 

 those towns, and this is probably the case in some other towns in 

 the county. Hingham is remarkable for the excellence of its 

 hogs, and they have formed one of the most striking portions of 

 the excellent shows of the Hingham Agricultural Society. No 

 product of the farm is more profitable than swine, and the dis- 

 ease in animals brought from Brighton, has benefited rather 

 than injured our farmers. The disease is contagious, and is 

 contracted from diseased animals, and also from the pens in 

 which they have been kept. 



Sheep. 



There are few sheep of pure blood in the county, but the 

 herds are more largely impregnated with the Southdown and 

 Cotswold, and, in a few instances, with the Oxford Down and 

 Leicester varieties. Owing to the fact that sheep are kept in 

 flocks more or less extensive, and that no farmer has made it a 

 rule to keep a pure-blooded flock by itself, the thoroughbred 

 stock of sheep soon becomes mixed, and although the sheep are 

 improved, it is difficult, except in a very few instances, to declare 

 what sheep are pure. 



