b2 



Best Fine Wool Buck, Henrv Werden, Richmond, 4 00 



2d do., C. B. Benedict, West Stockbiidge, 3 00 



3d do., C. B. Benedict, West Stockbridge 2 00 



Levi Beebe, j 



F. H. Gaston, Committee. 



Lester T. Osbobne, \ 



ELEVENTH DIVISION — 7 ENTRIES. 



The Committee on Ewes respectfully report that there were six entries of 

 Middle Wool Ewes for premium, and one of Coarse Wool. There was also one 

 lot of Fine Wool Ewes exhibited, which, by mistake, was not entered. In eon 

 sequence, it was not examined except by the Chairman of your Committee, who 

 recommended that it should receive the first premium. 



The Committee were gratified at seeing so many entries of Middle Wool 

 Sheep. They are the best for mutton ; especially the full blood youth Downs. 

 It is the flock of this, and of breeds nearly resembling it, which for a great 

 length of time has been held in the highest esteem in Great Britain, and on the 

 continent of Europe. And if the sheep growers of this country wish to increase 

 the consumption of mutton, causing it to take the place, to a. certain extent, of 

 the less healthful flesh of the hog, they must supply the markets with the best 

 kind. It cannot reasonably be expected that the community can be converted 

 to mutton-eating by offering them meat of bad quality. Men would soon learn 

 to love pure South Down mutton, juicy, tender and well flavored, who could 

 never be persuaded to eat much of the flesh of sheep, having a strong taste, as 

 is apt to be the case with Merinos, or having such excess of fat as belongs to 

 the large, coarse breeds. 



By crossing our common sheep, or even Merinos with South Down Bucks, 

 we can obtain flocks producing excellent mutton, and at the same time yielding 

 a good quality of wool. To do this successfully, it is absolutely essential that 

 the buck be entirely full- blood, or a thorough-bred. The use of any kind of 

 grade males, will be sure to vitiate the result, and disappoint the expectations of 

 even the most careful breeders. And we strongly recommend such sheep as 

 being adapted to the wants of this district of country. The Middle Wools are 

 not too large for the fertility of our pastures. If they require little richer feed- 

 ing grounds than the Merinos, they do not need to be kept in our very best 

 fields and meadows, like the Coarse Wools. If judiciously managed, they will 

 improve our lands, greatly and speedily. Wherever a sheep lies down, — if it 

 have a reasonable amount of room, — the grass springs up. They furnish the 

 cheapest means for clearing up the old pastures, which under a system of ex- 

 clusive cattle-husbandry are becoming over-grown with briars, daisies, weeds and 

 mosses. They make short work of such rubbish, and bring in its place white 

 clover and the liner English grasses. Sheep husbandry is the true method of 

 renovation for most of our hill-farms, now run down from the continual pas- 

 turing of cattle. If the Berkshire hills were situated in any of the old agricul- 

 tural countries of Europe, they would be crowded with flocks. When an English 

 farmer rents a farm, it is generally made a condition of the lease that he keep 

 a certain number of sheep for the benefit of the land. In Holland, where farms 

 are better cultivated than our gardens, there is a flock to almost every herd. 

 Some of our own most intelligent and thrifty farmers have stated that during 

 the last few years of low prices for sheep and wool, they have found profit in 

 keeping sheep. We think that the great majority of farms on the Berkshire 

 Bill-sides ought to have, at least, a, small flock of sheep on them. 

 best and only three Coarse Wool Ewes, third premium, Elisha Collins, 



Great Harrington, $2 no 



Best three Middle AVoolEwes, James Dewell, West Stockbiidge, 4 00 



2d do., William S. Willcox, Sheffield, 3 00 



3d do., C. L. Wright, Egremont, 2 00 



