SECRETARY'S REPORT. 91 



been impeached, their characters maligned ; but we are fully 

 convinced that the indebtedness of the Commonwealth to the 

 Commissioners cannot easily be discharged. 



For the Committee, 



Charles C. Sewall. 



The introduction of the disease, alluded to in the preceding 

 pages, among our neat cattle, has very naturally directed atten- 

 tion to the raising, management and profits of sheep as com- 

 pared with other farm stock. The Committee of the Board 

 appointed to collect information upon that important subject 

 submitted the following 



REPORT 



ON SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



The Committee of the State Board of Agriculture, appointed 

 to collect material and report upon the sheep husbandry of 

 Massachusetts, issued eight hundred of the following circulars, 

 which, through the agency of the members of tlie Board, were 

 distributed through every town in the State. 



It is discouraging and mortifying to know, that to these eight 

 hundred circulars only eleven replies were returned, except 

 from the county of Franklin, where, by unusual exertion and 

 continued solicitation, replies were obtained from every town. 



To those who did take the pains to make full answers to our 

 circulars, the Committee are under obligations^. One return 

 was received from Berkshire ; two from .Martha's Vineyard ; 

 three from Hampshire ; one from Plymouth ; four from Wor- 

 cester, and twenty-six from Franklin. 



The Committee sent out the following circular : — 



Sir, — The Massachusetts " State Board of Agriculture " desires infor- 

 mation upon the subject of Sheep Husbandry, and proposes the follow- 

 ing questions to the Farmers of the State. 



You would confer a favor and assist the cause of Agriculture, if you 

 would take the pains to answer the questions, and to make such experi- 

 ments or inquiries as may enable you to answer them more fully. 



You will be kind enough to return your answers in the inclosed en- 

 velope, on or before November 15th, directed to Charles L. Flint, Sec- 

 retary of the Board of Agriculture, Boston, Mass., with the name of the 

 subject or subjects upon which you have answered, indorsed thereon. 



