8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



epidemic diseases. The fairs of the county societies were 

 unusually successful ; the exhibitions were good and the 

 attendance was large ; the financial condition of the societies 

 has been improved with a few exceptions. A large number 

 of institutes have been held, that have been attended by the 

 secretary and members of the Board. 



The Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agricul- 

 ture, that for nearly a century, under wise and generous 

 guidance, has assisted the husbandry of the Commonwealth, 

 has again done important, permanent service, by the impor- 

 tation of thirty-eight rams of the best English breeds, that 

 have been distributed among our scanty flocks. There is, 

 however, but little hope for our sheep interest while we are 

 exposed to the unchecked ravages of dogs. One of the rams 

 belonging to the Massachusetts Society, an animal that could 

 not be replaced for $150, has been killed, with others of the 

 flock, and in Franklin County, where this husbandry is 

 most persistently attempted, the sheep killed in 1882 were 

 valued at $1,250 ; the damage to the flocks and the discour- ' 

 agementto the shepherds are not expressed in this appraisal. 

 The protection given to dogs by the laws of the Common- 

 wealth, and the consequent ruin of sheep husbandry, im- 

 peaches our boasted enlightenment. Up to the present time 

 we have appealed in vain to the law-making power. The 

 Massachusetts Society has also imported five Norman-Perch- 

 eron stallions, which are distributed about the State in con- 

 venient places, and may be used by farmers at a reasonable 

 rate. 



