292 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



former years, your delegate "vvas struck not only with the 

 decline of this branch of agricultural wealth and prosperity, 

 but with the marked changes also in others. In 18o7, there 

 were in Hampshire, as we have seen it stated, 43,000 sheep of 

 various breeds. In 1850, this number had been reduced to 

 38,000. In 1855, to 22,000. In 18G0, to 16,000. Thus, in 

 twenty-three years, there has been a diminution of 27,000 — or 

 more than sixty per cent, of the number of these most valuable 

 animals. It would be matter of curiosity, if not of benefit, to 

 ascertain from authentic records, were it possible, how much 

 the number of dogs — a class of animals useful, when properly 

 trained and in their proper place, but mainly a non-producing 

 class — had been increased within the same periods of time. 



Sheep we regard as among the most valuable and profitable 

 sources of agricultural wealth. A sheejvfarming system must 

 be highly advantageous to the land, and, with proper care and 

 attention, would yield a large proportion of profit in the wool 

 and carcase of the animal. 



Undoubtedly, the farmers of Hampshire have satisfactory 

 reasons to offer for this marked change in the ofvjects of their 

 attention, and it might be for the advantage of otliers to know 

 what they arc. The fact is potent that the farmers of Hamp- 

 shire and Berkshire are amongst the largest producers, in the 

 Commonwealth, of wheat, corn, oats, broom-corn, and, we are 

 now obliged to add, of tobacco. And the question suggests 

 itself whether sheep do not yield a manure best adapted to fer- 

 tilize the soil for these grains and at the smallest expense. 

 Indeed, the whole subject of sheep-raising, whether for advan- 

 tage to the land or the profit of wool and mutton demands, we 

 think, the attention of all our farmers, and is worthy of careful 

 consideration. We cannot but regret the change so apparent 

 in this county, if it be indicative of circumstances which will 

 in the end seriously affect the agricultural wealth and prosper- 

 ity of that portion of the Commonwealth. 



In 1855, there were in this county 3,500 oxen ; whereas, 

 there are now, according to the latest census, only 2,900. 

 Sixteen towns are represented as sharing this diminution; 

 some of thera to the extent of more than fifty per cent. In 

 1855, the number of steers was 3,400, and now it is 9,800, — 

 the increase being very large in every town. In 1855, the 



