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pointed. Never since the formation of the Society das there 

 been so fine a display of Sheep as has been seen here to-day. 



There were nine entries; three flocks; sixbncks — in all 44. 

 We are aware that most farmers think more of a fast horse, 

 or a work horse, an ox or a steer, a cow, or a fat swine than 

 they do of a sheep, or a flock of sheep. Among most 

 farmers this kind of stock has gone out of date; it has 

 become obsolete. 



But your Committee have no doubt that sheep husbandry 

 can be made a profitable business in this part of Worcester 

 County. In England, farmers engage in this business for 

 the sake of enriching the soil. This is done by fencing off 

 a lot of an acre, and sometimes less, and there keeping from 

 100 to 300 sheep, feeding them with hay, grass or roots, 

 until the soil is well prepared for cultivation; then they are 

 removed to another lot; and this process is carried on until a 

 large tract is prepared for the plow. Without sheep, many 

 farmers say, they could do nothing with their land. We 

 believe also it is one of the best ways of reclaiming rough 

 pasture lands. Sheep will not only enrich the soil, but they 

 will destroy bushes, briers and thorns. 



To show that sheep-husbandry can be made a profitable 

 business in this State, we would refer to the statements of 

 a few farmers in Hampden County. One says that be had 

 last year nine ewes and one buck, a mixture of the South 

 Down and native. About the first of January seven of the 

 ewes dropped one lamb each. In April the remaining two 

 dropped each a pair of twins, and about the first of July 

 the seven first named dropped one lamb each, making in all 

 eighteen lambs from nine ewes within seven months. In 

 Jane eight of these lambs were sold for $32,00, or .^4,00 per 

 head. Another says that his income from ten sheep last 

 year was $69,00. And another, that the net profit of ten 

 sheep was $41,00, or $4,10 per head. 



The successful wool-grower will always endeavor to 

 raise sheep, as well as wool for the market, consequently he 

 will have regard to the size as well as the form of the animal. 



