196 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



to last year, thus indicating a renewed interest in that most 

 pleasant, and certainly profitable branch of husbandry. 



The whole number of entries tliis year was twelve, against 

 five last year. Whole numljcr of sheep on exhibition, thirty- 

 four, against fifteen last year ; thus you see, allowing the 

 increased number of sheep on exhibition to represent the 

 interest in sheep husbandry, it has more than doubled during 

 the past year. This, we think, looks encouraging tliat the day 

 is not far distant when the pastures and meadows of Hampshire 

 County shall be made to assume their former productiveness, 

 wliich can be done in no other way, attended with so little 

 expense, as a thorough cultivation of sheep. The majority of 

 sheep on exliibition were of the graded South Down breed. 

 The buck belonging to Joseph Hatfield was a fine specimen of 

 the breed, which we did not hesitate to pronounce, taking all 

 points into consideration, superior, although there were others 

 which deserve no less notice, had we space and time to speak 

 of them separately, as we would like. The principal points by 

 which we were guided, were those which related most partic- 

 ularly to the yield of wool and mutton combined, as it is gen- 

 erally conceded by those most experienced in sheep raising, 

 that the middle-wool sheep will return the greatest pay to the 

 farmer. In speaking of the different breeds of sheep, we shall 

 not attempt to say that this or that breed will return the 

 greatest profit. We can merely state that which we have 

 gained by conversing with the experienced sheep-raiser, obser- 

 vation, and a limited experience. You will find by referring to 

 the English reports on sheep, that the South Downs rank among 

 the highest in Great Britain, for reasons laid down in the secre- 

 tary's report — disposition to fatten, earlier maturity, heavier 

 carcass, hardihood and capability of doing well on poor pasture. 

 Allowing these properties to be true, the South Down is 

 certainly a profitable breed, and should be strongly adhered to. 

 The Leicester, Cotswolds and Cheviot, also rank among the 

 highest in Britain. Blake says : " Each one has its peculiar 

 qualities, claiming superiority to tlie other breeds." It will be 

 recollected that opinions upon such subjects are often ruled by 

 self-interest. One thing is probably certain, that among the 

 English breeds, no one has been bred with as good success in 

 retaining the most desirable qualities of the original breed, as 



