No. 216.] 145 



J. L. RANDALL, 



On the keeping of Merino Sheep. 



During the season of grass, I give them plenty of pasture on dry 

 land, (with plenty of salt,) and frequent changes when practicable; 

 and during the seasons for feeding hay, I feed morning and night as 

 much as they want, and also straw at noon of whatever kinds I have; 

 also grain once per day, from six to eight quarts; rye, corn, peas, 

 beans, or the equal in some other kind of feed; to one hundred 

 sheep, I feed in racks and mangers under cover, and give them free 

 access to water. My pure merino ewes, under the above treatment, 

 have generally given over four pounds of clean wool per head; bucks, 

 from five to eight pounds, with a few to nearly ten pounds, though 

 generally fed some more grain. The wool from them sells of course 

 for prices varying with the market. It was sold last June to Messrs. 

 Kellogg & Farr, manufacturers at Baldwinsville, for fifty cents per 

 pound. 



J. L. RANDALL. 



Lysander, Jan. 3, 1848. 



OBADIAH ELLIOT'S SOUTH DOWN SHEEP. 



In reply to your circular, dated 1st ult., addressed to me as one of 

 the exhibitors at the twentieth annual fair of the American Institute, 

 I have to state, that with the occasional intrusion of a mare and 

 colt, and the constant feeding of an old sow, I kept three South 

 Down bucks and two ewes, (my only sheep,) on two roods of mean 

 grass pasture, and on that only, from April till October ]3th, of last 

 year, when they went for exhibition. Clip of washed wool averaged 

 over four pounds each, sold at 28 cents per pound. 



I believe I may state honestly that South Downs will live and 

 thrive better on mean pasture than any other known breed of sheep 

 in this country. 



OB'H ELLIOT. 



Middleham, Elizahethtown, JV. J., Feb. 5, 1848. 



£Am. Inst.] K 



