41 



it matters not to them how cheap potatoes can be gfown oh 

 the Penobscot, while we have a demand for them here in 

 August, before they can be brought from Maine. So we, if we 

 think of raising sheep, must inquire not what will keep long ; 

 not what can be transported well ; but for what is there a de- 

 mand, in which the farmers of Maine and Vermont can not 

 compete with us. We answer, early lambs. Every farmer 

 that has ever kept sheep, knows that there is nothing that 

 grows upon his farm that he can sell so readily at his own door 

 as his early lambs. We are told in the report that 5 cents per 

 pound is the price usually paid by the butcher for mutton. We 

 have kept sheep for four years, and the butchers have been 

 willing to pay five dollars apiece for lambs that will weigh 

 thirty pounds in June. 



We have been permitted, within a few days, to look over the 

 books of one of the largest dealers in mutton in this county, 

 and we find that the average wholesale price for lamb in June 

 and July was 15 cents per pound. Perhaps I shall not in fu- 

 ture be able to get so much more for my lambs than I shall for 

 my wool, as I have for a few years past. To illustrate my 

 meaning, I will give you the actual sale from one of my sheep 

 for the last three years : — 



1861, two lambs, dropped the 5th of March, sold 



the 15th of June to the butcher for ten dollars $10,00 



Six lbs. of unwashed wool sold at 25 cents per lb. 1.50 



1862, two lambs, at 4,20 apiece, 8.40 

 Six pounds of unwashed wool, at 40 cents per lb., 



one third shrink, • 1,60 



1863, two lambs, at $3.60 apiece, 7.20 

 Six pounds unwashed wool, at 55 cents per pound, 3.30 



Lambs for three years, $25.60 



Wool for three years, $6.40 



We would not make this case a general rule, but we think 

 that the lambs from a flock of well kept ewes will sell for twice 

 6 



