APPENDIX. 395 



During the summer season my sheep receive but little atten- 

 tion. As soon as they are shorn, which is about the 1st of June, 

 I immerse all of them in a decoction of tobacco of sufficient 

 strength to kill the ticks, if there are any. I then divide them 

 into flocks, paying regard only to sex and condition, put them into 

 pastures, and when it can be done conveniently, change them 

 eveiy week. They are regularly salted once a week. About 

 the 1st November, or when the wool is of sufficient length to 

 judge of its quahty, I examine each one of them myself and se- 

 lect for sale such as I consider of the least value. I do not sell 

 my best ewes, although I am not unfrequently offered prices for 

 them which might be considered exorbitant. I let my rams re- 

 main with the ewes from the 25th of November till 1st of Jan- 

 uary. During the winter season, if the ground is not covered 

 wdth snow, I keep them in yards, always providing for them good 

 shelters, and of course plenty of water — feed them in the common 

 racks or boxes, placed in the open yard, on hay of good quality, 

 and give them as much as they will eat. I do not feed grain or 

 roots of any kind. I find by this ti^eatment that my flock go out 

 in the spring in as good condition as they were at the commence- 

 ment of winter, with their wool more perfect and more rich in ap- 

 pearance.* If sheep in good condition at the beginning of winter 

 do not receive sufficient attention during the winter to keep them 

 so, of course, the wool will show it, besides it very much lessens 

 its value. I have been engaged for several years past in the pur- 

 chase of wool, and almost daily have come in contact with wool 

 of this description, which has been essentially injured by the bad 

 management of the flocks during the winter season. 



i have at this time something over 300 sheep, most of which 

 are pure-blooded Saxonies (i. e., if the importations of Saxons were 

 pure), having been bred from imported sheep. I have long been 

 of the opinion that the pure Saxony sheep, well managed, would 

 be hardy, and my object in the commencement of my flock was 

 to produce a strong, healthy animal, with a fleece of superfine 

 quality, and good weight ; in this I have perhaps succeeded tol- 

 erably well — certainly beyond my expectations, although I am 

 far from being satisfied yet. Notwithstanding there is quite a 

 family resemblance throughout the flock, yet I have some sheep 

 which are so different from any I have seen that I shall not be 

 satisfied unril my entire flock more nearly resemble them than 

 they now do. 



I had much rather show my sheep than describe them, but as 

 you wish to know the quantity of wool they yield, (fee, I will 

 give you the weight of the fleeces of 104 ewes, which were kept 

 in the same flock last winter, and which raised 101 lambs; their 

 fleeces (104) weighed 341 lbs. ; and although the quahty of it was 



* Mr. Smith seems to be well aware of the impolicy of high feeding, simply to 

 make heavy fleeces, and causing harsh and wiry wool. 



