47 



48 well as plants will thrive the best, and prove the most profitable in that locality 

 where the natural surroundings of soil and climate have long had their influence 

 upon them. We may by great care and artificial means grow tropical fniits, or 

 perhaps we might raise elephants here, if we had the means and the ability to 

 give them proper food and those surroundings which nature furnishes in locahties 

 where they naturally thrive ; so it is wise for us to study the adaptabihty of 

 animals to our own natural surrounding and wants, and our ability to raise princi- 

 pally, from our own farms sufficient food to keep them always in a thriving 

 condition. 



To produce the best mutton, the best beef or meat of any kind our animals 

 have got to be well kept, from the time they are born until they go to the sham- 

 bles. Many seem to think the secret of having nice stock is in getting a thorough- 

 bred, that has a pedigree recorded in some registr^^ or herd-book, or one that has 

 been recently imported, or whose ancestors can be traced to importation. Tiiis 

 is all right as far as it goes, if you are sure the animal has been well bred for the 

 purposes which you desire. But above and beyond this in importance, is the 

 keeping of our stock well, after we have obtained that which is choice. The 

 means by which our best stock has been brought to almost a state of perfection, 

 is just here ; an abundance of good food, given with regularity, and nice care and 

 attention to all their wants, united with knowledge and skill in selection and 

 breeding. Often-times farmers are disappointed in the results obtained from 

 well bred animals : this may sometimes be caused by a defect in the animal 

 itself, but I think oftener, because the new owner does not furnish the necessary 

 means to obtain the results expected. 



Sheep in this section of the country-, and for the past few years, have been 

 considered a side show ; have been kept for no particular object, a httle wool to 

 spin for stockings perhaps, and a sheep or lamb to kill now and then. Very little 

 attention has been given to them. Certainly not as much they deserve. Our 

 farmers do not have faith in the old Spanish proverb "Whereon the foot of the 

 sheep touches, the land is turned into gold." The English people have found the 

 value of sheep husbandry, and give them the very best of care, while ours are 

 often allowed to go half starved through the winter. Not very much is expected 

 of them, not much is given them to eat, and but very little profit is obtained from 

 them, whereas the English farmers say, but for their sheep, they could not paj 

 their rents, and certainly could realize no profits. We have here in Massachusetts 

 only about 60,000, valued at $217,000. Thirteen years ago we had 210,000, nearly 

 four times as many, valued at $1,063,306. This does not look very encouraging 

 for the sheep business, yet there are indications of more interest being taken in 

 this branch of farming. Our State Board of Agriculture is becoming mterested 

 in the subject, and intends to do what it can to restore it to favor. That a few 

 sheep may be made beneficial and profitable on every farm, I have no doubt : 

 they are said to feed upon three hundred and eighty-seven species of plants, and 

 they delight to crop the weeds which no other animal wiU touch. We ought to 

 support in Massachusetts a number equal to the number of inhabitants. 



Alexander Hyde of Lee said he believed we should raise more sheep. When 

 Merino sheep were first brought into this country, it was for the wool. Now we 

 want to combine wool with mutton. Mutton is much more wholesome than beef 

 or pork. The country' now produces 100,000,000 pounds of wool, and we should 

 be able to produce enough to supply the whole world. But hereabouts we should 

 depend on mutton and not on wool to pay best. We have all the breeds necessa- 

 ry, and believe more money could be made raising mutton than in any other 

 business, but one must be adapted to it. In concluding his remarks, Mr. Hyde 

 said, ' 'If I were a young man casting about for employment, I believe I should go 

 to one of Mr. Bidwell's Monterey farms, that can be bought for two or three dol- 

 lars an acre, and go into sheep husbandry." 



W. H. Palmer considers sheep the most profitable stock one can have on -the 

 farm. He has always raised sheep. No doubt mutton is profitable, but wool is 

 also. When he can get 35 cents a pound for wool it pays better than milk. When 

 western wool brought 42 cents, he got 48^ for his grade wool. His grades are 

 cross from Merino to Cotswold. He has sold many lambs from $4 to $r> per head, 

 and thinks one can keep ten sheep where thej- could keep one cow. 



