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HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. 



SHEEP INDUSTRY. 



In location and soil this State is peculiarly adapted to 

 sheep raising. The uplands are rolling or hilly, and the val- 

 leys well drained, so that almost the entire State, except 

 where land is too valuable for other uses, is suitable for sheep 

 grazing. 



While it may be said that no pasture is too good for a 

 sheep, it is equally true that sheep will thrive on rough hillside 

 or weedy pastures not well adapted for dairy or beef cattle. 



Not only is this State an ideal place for growing and keep- 

 ing sheep, but nowhere else can the flockmaster get so quick 

 and so adequate returns for his marketable products. The 

 great woolen industries are in the Eastern States, and the 

 wholesale wool dealers of Hartford pay the highest prices for 

 wool, while the freight from any point in Connecticut is so 

 small a percentage of the price as hardly to be appreciable. 



While the climate and pasturage are suitable for all breeds 

 of sheep, the markets make a medium or coarse wool sheep 

 most profitable. While the fleeces may not be quite so 

 heavy, the wool brings a good price and the lambs and mut- 

 ton find near by, in all parts of the State, the best of markets. 



It may be possible to put Western spring lamb into Con- 

 necticut markets as good as even the mutton from a South 

 Down sheep fattened on Connecticut hills, but an experience 

 of many years would not warrant me in saying that it ever 

 was done. 



As our butter and eggs bring a better price than Western 

 products, because of our nearness to markets, and the fitness 

 of our soil and surroundings enable us to produce these arti- 

 cles and get them to the consumer in the best possible con- 

 dition, so our lamb and mutton should and would, if properly 

 marketed, bring not only more than the Western farmer gets, 

 but more than the Western meat retails for in Eastern 

 markets. 



With such advantages it may be considered remarkable 

 that Connecticut has not more flockmasters. The manufact- 



