on Merino Sheep and Wool. 5^t 



tioned that I was attempting to give my sheep potatoes. For a considerable tims 

 th"e attempt was unsuccessful. Whether raw or boiled, whole or cut, they were 

 almost wholly rejected. At length, a little salt was sprinkled on them when boiled, 

 and they were then greedily eaten. To 152 sheep and 109 lambs, 4^ bushels of 

 potatoes so prepared were for about a week daily given; in consequence of which, 

 all the sheep, though at the same time eating hay, and chafF with linseed jelly, 

 were seized with a looseness, which proved fatal to two of my best ewes. 



This year, I made a similar attempt in the month of April ; giving daily, for g. 

 successive days, 3 bushels of boiled potatoes without salt to 136 ewes, about 126 

 lambs, and 29 rams and wethers, fed as before with hay, and linseed jelly with 

 chaff. All the sheep were again affected with looseness, though not to the same 

 extent as before. I then discontinued the boiled potatoes, and for about 10 days 

 substituted, to the ewes and lambs only, iJ- bushel of potatoes raw and cut in 

 pieces, with a very small quantity of ground oats and chalF. So corrected, they 

 seemed to agree extremely well. 



I have now related to the Board all which my time and opportunities have per- 

 mitted, on ihe subject of their premium ; and I trust that they will not consider 

 me as too minuie on a topic in which almost every thing is new. Agriculiural 

 (Economy presents an unbounded, as well as unbeaten field, over which an en- 

 quirer will in vain loiter after knowledge. In order 10 establish truth, he must 

 search diligendy, view all objects with his own eyes, and scrutinize the qualities 

 and order of phcciiomena with a precision not inferior to that of the metaphysician 

 or chemist. 



Throughout this Essay, there are various calculations, in some of which errors 

 may, perhaps, hereafter be discovered. This would not, indeed, be greatly wondered 

 at, were I to state the mode, in which I have been compelled to compose the greatest 

 part of the work. I have, however, in every instance, endeavoured to verify the 

 result by different proofs ; and I trust that no error will be found, which is suffi- 

 ciently important to affect the conclusion, which has any wiiere beendeduced» 



Majr 12, 1807. 



