74 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



ing itself through the wool, till it reaches the flesh and then 

 into the flesh. They must then lose flesh from the irritation. 

 If such pastures could be overstocked, however, with sheep, the 

 thistle would be overcome, and exterminated easily, and where 

 land is rocky, it is the only way in which they can be. 



Sheep with Cows. 



It was the declared opinion of the late lamented Asa T. 

 Newhall, that in every pasture stocked with cows, as many 

 sheep as there are now cows may be added to the number 

 of cows without detriment. The sheep bites closer, and in 

 many places where the cow cannot. Besides this, the sheep 

 will feed on the leaves of vines and bushes which the cow 

 rarely touches. Here there is an opportunity for raising the 

 stocking yarn and mitten yarn for the family without feeling 

 it. And no farmer who has tried the yarn of the shops, chop- 

 ped off" by machinery, can but desire the stockings and mittens 

 for himself and his sons, made of yarn, carded, spun, and knit 

 at home, or at least by hand. 



Where but few sheep are to be kept, and those with cows, 

 it is desirable to have cossets. Lambs for this purpose may 

 be bought cheap out of every large flock, in the spring, which 

 the dams will not own. Even cossets, however, will stray 

 away from the cows, if there are many of them, and form a 

 flock by themselves.* 



The Kind of Sheep for our County. 



As sheep cannot, probably, be profitable here for the wool 

 alone, on account of the price of land, it is important that that 

 kind should be selected which is best for meat, or for meat 

 and wool combined. The Leicester sheep is one of the largest, 

 and fattens well. The wool is also in its favor, being long and 

 soft, and the fleece heavy, and will sell as quick at the factory 

 as the Merino, if not quite as high. The truth is, our country 



* I purchased a fine cosset three years ago, and in the fall, a buck from a flock. 

 The cosset kept with the cows, and so compelled the ram to do for company. A ewe 

 from a flock was afterwards added, and even then the cosset could not be induced to 

 leave the cows, and the three kept together. Next summer, however, when they were 

 sent to a distance for pasture, and a flock of sheep were in the adjoining pasture, mine 

 left the cattle and joined them. 



