II) 



the country larger and cheaper sheep pastures were found and utilized where the 

 climate was more favorable. That with the growth of manufacturing villages 

 home markets were created for other farm products that could be raised to greater 

 advantage. It is proper to state, however, that many farmers believe that sheep it 

 properly cared for, housed and fed, with sheds open to the south, can be raised on 

 our hillsides as well as anywhere. Man}' believe that sheep raising is a profitable 

 pursuit on our hills now. Their belief is founded upon the idea that while per- 

 haps it may be a question whether sheep raising would pay simply as a wool grow- 

 ing speculation; as a question of supplying mutton for the market with the wool as 

 an incidental, it is a safe a d prudent business. In 1840 the idea was to keep 

 sheep for the profit to be made on the wool. To-day the idea is to keep them for the 

 profit on mutton. This necessitates a change in the breed of sheep. The merino 

 will be discarded as too small. With the imported breeds follow heavier fleeces 

 combined with larger and hea i isses. Mr. Milton, another of.your presidents 



to whom allusion has been made, hasa flock of South Downs, lie proposes to keep, 

 about onehundred and fifty ewes. Hisisa practical business method. Thesheepare 

 well cared for, well fed, well sheltered. He has lambs at all seasons of the year 

 and though his sheep are principally intended for the early market and a mutton 

 breed he yet clips live pounds of wool from a sheep. He has a good market and 

 his sheep raising pays. He is now experimenting with a crossing of Oxfords. 

 There would seem to be no reason from the standpoint of his success why these 

 hills should not again abound in shi 



Berkshire farming has wrought great changes in the aspect of the county. The 

 old Indian trail disclosed a wild, wooded, rugged hill country. The horseback 

 journey of the early settler along the bridle paths, over the hills found the forest 

 and the Indian between the scanty settlements. 



The drive in the old chaise fifty years since presented a beautiful farming coun- 

 try and from every village street was gained an unobstructed view of great natural 

 beauty. Thrifty farms owned and tilled by a hardy race bespoke energy and some 

 skill. 



The earriage drive to-da) "among the Berkshires" presents a more cultivated 

 country and one has to be fold that the way-side field that charms the eye with 

 its generous crop or carpet of green was oncea rocky pasture or a swamp reclaimed. 

 Culti%'ated farms adorn the hillsides ,,. ;eneral tidiness and thrift charm do 



icturesque natural scenery itself. This great change has come slow- 

 ly anil by hard work. There is yet room for the work of generations in improve- 

 ments however. The danger is the county will become too attractive and that men 

 of wealth will buy up large tracts and the native population be crowded out. Yet 

 those who come among us have wealth to beautify the landscape and if you will 

 sell, sell them the old pastures at good prices and let them experiment at farming. 

 In 1850 the improved land of the county was returned at 272,489 acres, the unim- 

 proved at [74,956. In 1880 the improved .it, tilled 106,201, meadow etc., 208,- 

 443, — 314.644; the unimpri odland and (orest 128,608, other unimprov- 



ed 37.057 — 165,662. There is, i: is true, a large difference in the aggregate acre- 

 age (42,861) returned in the two years named, but it is highly probable that the 

 figures for improved lands are the irate so that in the thirty years 



