SHEEP. 



65 



could discern traces of the Merino, South Down 

 Leicester, Irish Smut and Native, and are of opinion 

 that a cross in these breeds, so as to produce wool of 

 good length and medium fineness, is better for ordinary 

 uses than that of the finest quality- and that sheep 

 producing this quality of wool are more hardy and better 

 for rearing lambs for the market, which in our opinion 

 affords greater profit than the wool to the farmer. You 

 will excuse me if I say a word in regard to my own 

 experience in the matter. I have a pasture situated 

 near my buildings, consisting of about twenty acres, 

 enclosed with a common stone wall with riders upon the 

 top, and a small stream of water running through it- 

 For the last twenty-four years in it I have kept, with 

 my oxen and horse, a flock of from fifteen to twenty 

 sheep each year, which have afforded as good profits as 

 any other stock. The fence I have endeavored to put 

 in good repair before putting them into the pasture in 

 the spring, after which I have seldom had any trouble 

 during the season. And instead of impoverishing the 

 soil, it will now keep, at least one-quarter more stock 

 than when first owned by me, without the application 

 of manure of any kind, except that left by the stock. 

 The present season I have kept seventeen sheep, which 

 brought, in the last week in March and first week in 

 April, twenty lambs, which they have reared. The lambs 

 I sold when three and four months old to the butcher 

 for $80,00 or $4,00 each. The wool, after being washed 

 and sheared from the sheep was sold in the fleece — - 

 fter reserving twenty pounds for my family use — fifty- 

 four and one-half at 38 cents per pound amounting to 



