286 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The Saxony sheep were next introduced under the idea of 

 greater hardiness, — the first being imported by Samuel Hen- 

 shaw, in 1823. 



Since then, the culture of sheep has undergone a very 

 decided change in this country. Tlien, fine-woolled sheep were 

 almost entirely raised. There were to be seen some of what 

 were called native sheep, — that is, sheep grown so long in this 

 country, that they possessed none of the distinctive marks of 

 the breeds from wliich they originally sprung, though all of 

 them came from Great Britain ; and there were also some 

 called Irish Smuts, middling large sheep, and possessing some 

 good points, but lacking the most essential qualities, and 

 entirely unreliable in the breeding. There were then none of 

 the thorough-bred Leicester, South Down, Cotswold, or other 

 large or middle-woolled sheep. 



There are several reasons why our farmers have changed 

 their system of sheep raising, from the small fine-woolled to the 

 larger middle-woolled sheep. 



The fluctuations of the price of wool, from fifty-four cents 

 down to thirty, the enormously increased importation of 

 Australian wool, and the superior advantages of the West and 

 South with their immense sheep walks, together with the 

 losses attendant on a large flock, have operated one way to 

 drive out the fine-woolled slieep, while the greatly increased 

 demand, the ready market, and quick returns for mutton and 

 lambs, with less trouble, and a smaller flock, have contributed 

 to the same purpose, in a different way. No doubt, too, the 

 constant destruction of sheep by dogs, has had much to do 

 in bringing it about. 



The larger breeds will produce more lambs, and by good 

 keeping, both their quantity of wool is increased and their ten- 

 dency to breed, and their capacity to bring up their lambs. 

 Such sheep well kept will yean and suckle an average of a 

 lamb and a half to a ewe, or fifteen lambs to ten ewes. Large, 

 early lambs well started, and allowed a pint of meal daily, for 

 the last two months, will readily find a market here at $5 

 per head, in May or June. The care and trouble of a flock of 

 such sheep, bears no proportion to that attendant on a large 

 flock of fine-woolled sheep. 'The larger breeds are more prolific, 

 hardier, less liable on account of their size, to be worried by 



