APPENDIX. 403 



the country. Pride will doubtless cause some of us to continue 

 growing fine wool, for a time, but when we see our neighbors 

 getting about as much by the pound, and more by the fleece, in- 

 terest will prompt us to adopt the course which pays best. 



The supply of wool having been larger than the demand for 

 the past three years, has, in our opinion, led the manufacturers to 

 suppose that no such change was going on. When the old stock 

 is worked off and a fair competition springs up, they will find it 

 difficult to obtain a supply of as good wool as under the same de- 

 mand three years ago. 



If this should be the result they may attribute it to the want of 

 their usual sagacity. We trust they will look to this subject be- 

 fore it is too late. All the wool-grower needs to induce him to grow 

 fine wool is a proper system of discrimination ; let this be done, 

 and there ^vill be no difficulty in procuring a supply. 



We believe that a proper emulation in the growing of fine wool, 

 tends to make better fanners, for if they once acquire a taste for 

 superior flocks, it will extend to other branches of farming, which 

 is a result to be desired by every one who has the interest of the 

 fanning community at heart. 



LETTER FROM JOSEPH BARNUM, OF SHOREHAM, VERMONT. 



Dear Sir, — According to your request, I herewith send you a 

 statement of my management of sheep, and the breed. My flock 

 consists of about 700, and is of the pure Merino blood ; for their 

 pedigree I refer you to Mr. Randall's statement in the Albany 

 Cultivator of December last. My flock was bought of Mr. A. 

 Cock, of Long Island, by Leonard Bedell, and said to be of the 

 Paular breed. I now own the flock and farm of the said Bedell, and 

 the sheep have been kept pure to this day. Last year I sheared 

 610, whi(«i yielded to me 2441 lbs. of wool, being a fraction over 

 four pounds per head. I tag my sheep immediately before turn- 

 ing them to pasture, and take from each about 3 onnces of wool. 



I think it very necessary that sheep should be sheltered in win- 

 ter. Feeding roots is preferable to grain ; oats, however, I think 

 as good a grain as any. Tuniips and can-ots are very acceptable 

 to sheep, especially the last. One bushel of carrots to the hundred 

 will keep them thriving ; half a bushel of oats to an hundred lambs 

 daily will result greatly to their benefit. Four weeks before lamb- 

 ing it is veiy necessary that ewes should be fed from 8 to 16 

 quarts of corn or peas daily, as it ^vill contribute to their strength, 

 increase their milk, and give less trouble in raising the lambs. I 

 raise from 85 to 95 lambs from 100 ewes. They are usually 

 dropped in the field, during the month of May. One buck to a 

 hundred ewes is sufficient, if put up nights, and grained high. I 

 do not allow more than one buck to go with a flock of ewes at the 



