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sucli a degree of development that we undoubtedly stand in the front rank, 

 as a combination of the most desirable points in a sheep. We cannot claim 

 to be foremost in each one — but in all combined, unequalled. The best of 

 them have : — 



1st. A square, low solid form, with great depth, and breadth, indicative 

 of strong, constitution and vigor : 



2d. Admirable capacity to take on fat at maturity : 



3d. A carcase of mutton rivalling the South-down and the Mountain 

 breed of Scotland and Wales in delicacy and flavor. 



4th. An even uniform coating of strong wool, of the best quality, cov- 

 ering the whole surface of the body; and so protected from the effects of 

 snow and rain, as to waste but little in the process of combing or carding. 



We have a soil and climate peculiarily adapted to producing this sheep 

 in the greatest perfection. And while we may not hope to raise wool as 

 cheaply as it can be done in Texas, or mutton as profitably as it can be 

 done in Ohio, we may still render our sheep-husbandry more remunerative 

 than theirs by devotion to the business of improving the Merino for those 

 markets where the soil and climate are less favorable than our own, to the 

 growth of a compact, hardy animal, with a thick-set, uniform, lively fleece 

 of wool, valuable to the American farmer, and indispensable to the Ameri- 

 can manufacturer. 



I have hastily reviewed some of the points on which American Agricul- 

 ture may base its prospects for future improvement It must have occur- 

 red to you that the subject is almost inexhaustible — and its importance so 

 far as the prosperity of the country is concerned is great. For the three 

 great sections, the East, West and South, there cannot be the same future. 

 For the East, the effort to improve her agriculture must be great. For 

 the South, the Providence of God alone can forsee the results of the tre- 

 mendous social revolution now going on there. For the West we may 

 perhaps speak with more conlidence. There can be no doubt that it is on 

 the whole our most valuable agricultural region. The development of its 

 agricultural resources has hardly yet begun. Mr. Calhoun, glowing with 

 enthusiasm in contemplation of the immense and almost boundless resour- 

 ces of that great section, still remaining to be developed, used the follow- 

 ing language: — " Looking beyond to a not very distant future, when this 

 immense valley containing within its limits one million two hundred thous- 

 and square miles, lying in its whole extent in the temperate zones, and oc- 

 cupying a position midway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, un- 

 qualled in fertility and the diversity of its productions, intersected in ever 



