220 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



PLYMOUTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



• 



The exhibition of slieep seems to have exceeded those here- 

 tofore, both as to number and quality. Your committee 

 believe sheep husbandry is beginning to be better appreciated 

 by our farmers ; we are quite sure no stock is so profitable. 



Contrast, for instance, the dairy stock ; take into account 

 the choice feed which is requisite to do any thing like a suc- 

 cessful business, and the daily routine of work and never- 

 ending labor, with our dry and almost barren fields — the slight 

 care and oversight of a flock of sheep, which are at pasture the 

 greater part of the time. 



The reason why sheep have become so nearly extinct in 

 many parts of our county, is mainly the ravages of dogs in 

 past years, l)ut under the present law, we have little to fear. 

 And we hope yet to see our waste lands and old fields stocked 

 with sheep as in former times. But the law should be that 

 no dog shall run at large without his master. 



We sometimes hear objections urged against keeping sheep, 

 that the wool docs not command the price it formerly did. That 

 is very true ; yet tlie increasing demand and ready market in 

 our cities and villages for early lambs, more than makes up the 

 deficiency on the fleece. At no time was tliere ever greater 

 encouragement for a farmer to engage in this branch of business. 



Those of us who keep sheep know full well the tempting 

 prices offered for our choice lambs, which we have decided to 

 keep to replenish our flocks. 



Mr. Davis's sheep are of the Oxford Down variety, which is 

 a new breed, now highly prized in England, made out of a 

 cross between the South Down and Cotswold. They are smaller 

 than the Leicester — arc more prolific, nurse better, make better 

 mutton, and are supposed to be better suited to our soil and 

 climate. The' Leicester may be more profitable to the butcher, 

 but requires more care. It is questionable whether the pure 

 Leiccsters would maintain their size and thrift on our soil. 

 Under the head of flocks of sheep, the committee understand 

 wethers, bucks and ewes, of a year or over, to be included. 



ErHRAiM B. Thompson, Chairman. 



