45 



which he soon became fond, though the whole amount he consumed 

 was trifling. On the 20th of May the butcher gave him $4 for the 

 lamb, which weighed 9 and 10 lbs. per quarter. Another farmer 

 this last season from 30 sheep sold 24 lambs at $3 each. Another, 

 from 30 sheep sold lambs to the amount of ^75. Another from 12 

 ewes sold 18 lambs at $2.50 cents each. 



I subjoin the account given to me by an exact farmer. " Five 

 years ago he bought 6 sheep for $2 per head. From these he 

 sold 6 lambs at $2 each. He considered the wool as paying for 

 the keeping. The sheep sold in December of that year for |i25.50 



Four years ago he bought 12 sheep but did not do so well be- 

 cause he did not sell the old sheep ; the lambs sold for more. 



Three years ago he had 25 sheep. The experiment in the sale 

 of the lambs did well. 



Two years ago he had 50 sheep ; for 40 lambs he received $100, 

 for 4 lambs $8 — $108 ; for the wool at 48^ cents per lb. he received 

 $73. Total proceeds, $181. He kept the stock. 



This year he had 47 sheep. They gave him 33 lambs, and be- 

 sides these 7 lambs died. The lambs brought $2.25 each. They 

 did not come until April." 



It is important in such cases so to arrange matters that the sheep 

 should Iamb early ; and to have plenty of ruta baga or best of hay in 

 store for them while in milk. Potatoes tor feeding the ewes are 

 said by some farmers in Berkshire to be in such case injurious. 

 The difficulty is in keeping a stock of ewes through the summer. 

 This might be very inconvenient in some locations, especially as 

 the fences in general in Essex are not suited to this kind of stock. 

 The farmer might provide, therefore, to drive his ewes to a pasture 

 in the interior after his lambs were sold, and have them returned in 

 the autumn ; or he might finish the experiment in the spring by 

 fattening and selling his ewes in the market after the lambs were 

 sold, and the fleeces taken off; or he might fatten his ewes to 

 advantage by soiling. I have known this done with advantage. 



Our native stock crossed by the South-down would probably 

 give the best lambs. The South-down Sheep, of which a beautiful 

 flock is to be seen at the Ten Hills stock farm in Charlestown, 

 combine probably in a higher degree than any known among us the 



