SHEEP. 197 



the South Down. This has been done by Mr. John Ehnan, 

 who seemed to take hold of the business with a strong deter-* 

 mination to succeed. In the fall of 1858, I conceived the idea 

 that the sheep which would yield a medium grade of wool, 

 with a good mutton frame of about one hundred pounds, would 

 be the safest, if not the most profitable, to invest in. I there- 

 fore heard, after making numerous inquiries, of a very success- 

 ful breeder of sheep, Mr. L. Wilcox, of Orwell, Vermont, who, 

 I found on visiting him and looking over his flock, had, by 

 crossing the Spanish Merino with the Cotswold, procured a fine 

 looking sheep, both for mutton and wool, although I think 

 there might have been more improvement in the wool if he had 

 crossed with some other of the English breeds ; but we will take 

 the breed as it was. I purchased one hundred and fifty, two and 

 three years old ewes, intending to keep a part, at least, for my 

 own culture ; but, as luck would have it, I sold them, but 

 always regretted it. I sold them in two lots ; the largest lot 

 fell into the hands of a feeder, and soon found their way to the 

 market. The other lot of fifty went into the hands of an expe- 

 rienced raiser and breeder of sheep, Horace Russell, of Hadley, 

 who was one of our committee. Mr. Russell says, as far as his 

 experience has gone, he can testify in favor of this breed. He 

 has raised some of the best lambs for early market that have 

 been raised in this vicinity. His wool, although sold at the 

 extreme low price at which wool started the past season, brought 

 upwards of one dollar per head. The farmer who is about to 

 purchase a stock of sheep, must not be governed by what this 

 or that man says, but must study his own convenience and 

 exercise his own judgment in part, as circumstances alter cases. 

 You are aware, ere this, that I am in favor of the middle-wool 

 sheep. True, I am. I am well aware that I shall not agree 

 with some in making the following statements in favor of the 

 middle-wool sheep. 1st. The middle-wool sheep will not con- 

 sume three-fourths of the feed that is necessary to keep a 

 coarse-wool mutton sheep in fair condition. 2d. I have always 

 met with better success in raising early lambs for the market, 

 than with the coarse breed, as they fatten much more readily, 

 mature quicker, and it is always the pet lamb that finds a ready 

 market and good prices. 3d. They are a hardier sheep, can be 

 kept in larger flocks, (which is quite convenient for many,) 



