53 



generally into this most profitable and pleasant branch of our 

 farm industry. 



Tlie system of registry is quite perfect, and I think a Sheep 

 Breeder's association might be formed in Essex County, as 

 well as in many localities in other States, which are doing a 

 most useful work. 



A few years ago I was in Vermont for a short time ; while 

 there I passed most of my time with one of the representa- 

 tives to the Legislature ; he was a successful farmer and kept 

 quite a number of sheep, and from him I got some good ideas 

 as to the industry in that vicinity ; he said that the breeding 

 of fine merino sheep was an extensive industry, embracing 

 among its supporters purchasers from the Middle and Western 

 States, Texas, California, New Mexico, and other wool-pro- 

 ducing sections. 



In considering the comparative values of the different 

 breeds of sheep, from a wool standpoint, it is clearly evident 

 that the most profitable to the grower, are the fine-wooled 

 sheep, either the high grade Merino or the pure blood ; and, 

 furthermore, for the past few years there has been an increas- 

 ing tendency towards the production of a finer class of goods. 



The prosperity of the country has created a demand for 

 better clothing, and so long as we can look forward to contin- 

 ued success in our great agricultural and'industrial enterprises, 

 there is little prospect of a retrograde movement towards 

 cheaper fabrics. 



No clearer evidence of the prevailing demand for better 

 woollens is shown, than in the case of one of the largest cor- 

 porations in New England, whose machinery is adapted to, 

 and whose consumption consists in, the working of medium 

 and low-combing wools. The prosperity of this mill in past 

 years has been so great that its shares cf stock were worth, a 

 year and a half ago, about threefold their par value ; where- 

 as, the decline in prices of low grade goods during the past 

 eighteen months, has depreciated the stock from that point 

 more than thirty -five per cent. 



