ON SHEEP. 61 



tigation of the fact in any town of the county, and have 

 no doubt that those who are generally reputed to be 

 the best farmers will be found to have practised in this 

 manner. In relation to swine, there is much room for. 

 the exercise of a sound judgment in the selection of 

 the animals to be fed. Far better is it to purchase 

 animals of the best breed, at a high price, than to take 

 those of an inferior class for nothing. 



We hope that the liberal premiums offered on these 

 subjects, as well as others, will induce some of our 

 young farmers to make experiments, and let their expe- 

 rience be known, and in so doing they will bring honor 

 upon themselves and a lasting benefit upon the whole 

 community. 



For the Committee, 



J. W. ALLEN. 



December^ 1841. 



ON SHEEP. 



The Committee on Sheep respectfully Report : 

 The Society has lately offered no premiums for sheep 

 at their annual exhibition, but a lot having been present- 

 ed by Mr John Hale, of Boxford, the Committee was 

 directed to notice them in such manner as they might 

 deserve. But few sheep, comparatively with the other 

 agricultural counties, are kept in Essex.* But it is 

 probable that sheep might be made very profitable on 

 many of our farms. The difficulty of restraining them 

 in common enclosures is the great objection, but the 

 South Down variety, it is said, has less propensity to 

 ramble. We were gratified with the appearance of Mr. 

 Hale's sheep, and submit to the Society whether it 

 would not be advisable to offer encouragement for the 

 exhibition of sheep at future exhibitions. 



* By the statistical tables published in 1838, it appears that tlieic were in 

 Massachuactts, 374,610 sheep, of these only 5,827 belonged to Essex. 



