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flock of Lambs and one Buck by Eben Sutton, of North 

 Andover. 



Mr. Sutton also had on exhibition four fine Sheep, all full 

 blood Cotswold. In the opinion of a majority of the Com- 

 mittee, Mr. Perley's smaller breed of sheep are better adapted 

 to the wants of the farmers of Essex County than are the 

 Cotswold, Mr. Corliss dissenting, and we award the following 

 premiums : — 



For the best Flock of Sheep, the first premium of $10 to 

 Charles Perley, of Boxford. 



For the best Flock of Lambs, the first premium of $5 to 

 Charles Perley, of Boxford. 



For the best Buck, the first premium of |8 to Eben Sutton, 

 of North Andover. 



The Committee most earnestly urge the farmers of Essex 

 County to keep more sheep. There is no stock kept on the 

 farm that will pay as large a profit as a flock of good sheep, 

 well managed ; they yield a double profit ; one on their lambs 

 and wool, another by improving the pastures. There are 

 hundreds of acres of pasture land in Essex County that are 

 now nearly worthless from being overgrown with bushes, 

 briers and weeds that can be improved by keeping sheep if 

 the right course is pursued. We have seen it stated by 

 writers in the Agricultural Journals that a pasture that will 

 carry ten cows through the season will carry ten sheep in 

 addition without detriment to either cows or pasture, as they 

 will eat that which the cows refuse. This is a mistake, for 

 sheep will not eat either bushes, briers or weeds, when they 

 can get good sweet grass. The pasture to be improved should 

 be stocked wholly with sheep ; put on the number that it will 

 carry through the season by close feeding, and no more, as 

 the changing of pastures gets them into the habit of roaming 

 and makes continual trouble. If the lambs come early as 

 they should, they will be sold by the time the feed begins to 

 fail, and then the sheep can be forced to eat the bushes, briers 

 and weeds, and will thrive upon them ; and by their continual 



