APPENDIX. 401 



IStli. TI16 average price of land in Beaver county is about 15 

 dollars per acre. 



14th. The foot-rot is a disease unkno\\Ti to the sheep of Beaver 

 county. 



JOINT LETTER FROM CHAS. W. HULL AND M. T. TILDEN, OF NEW 

 LEBANON, NEW YORK. 



The flock was accidentally commenced, in the year 1810, by 

 the late Elam Tilden. He was in New York waiting the sloop 

 to sail, when he met the late Chancellor Livingston, who invited 

 him to go to a sale of Merino sheep, and while there he purcha- 

 sed a full-blooded ewe, and shortly after purchased of other impor- 

 tations. 



From this stock sprang quite a flock of full-blooded Merinos. 

 In 1822 Mr. Hull became associated with him, and as soon as 

 the Saxons were introduced, they commenced crossing with them. 

 In 1827 they purchased one of the best rams ever imported (at a 

 sale in Brighton) ; in 1828 they purchased largely of both bucks 

 and ewes at the large sale in New York. From this stock, pre- 

 served pure, have sprung our present flocks. We have been very 

 particular to breed from the best Saxon bucks we could procure. 

 The flock on the farm of the late Elam Tilden numbers aboui 

 800 ; Mr. Hull's about 300. 



Formerly our aim was short staple and light wool ; then our 

 fleeces averaged from 2 lbs. 6 oz. to 2 lbs. 9 oz. ; since the man- 

 ufacturers have discovered that length of staple is not incompat- 

 ible with fine wool, we have, by increasing its length, increased 

 its weight to 2| lbs., and we hope, by judicious breeding, to bring 

 them to 3 lbs., and still preserve the fineness of the fleece. 



We winter in herds, ranging from 50 to 100, and in herding aim 

 lo keep those of an age, size, and sex together. We shelter all 

 principally in cellar bams, and feed all under cover, in boxes, 

 being particular to keep fresh water and salt by them constantly. 

 We consider both as essential for them as for neat cattle or horses, 

 for by having both water and salt by them, they never eat or 

 dnnk inordinately. To one who has never practised this system, 

 it would be quite a curiosity to see them running from the hay to 

 the water. 



Our feed is well-cured hay, three times a day, of which we feed 

 them all they will eat, which is about 15 tons to the 100, except 

 about four weeks before the dropping of the lambs, when we feed 

 the ewes about a peck of corn-cob meal, mixed with one bushel 

 potatoes, or Rutabaga, grated, to the 100. Occasionally we feed 

 oat and barley straw, com stalks, &c., as we have them to spare.* 

 We make no difference in the feed of our lambs. 



* Messrs. Hall & Tilden, it seems, adopt the German system of variety of food 

 —for which they are to be commended for their sagacity. 



84* 



