16 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



^'^§0:i 





V^ RJ^S>^ 



A BEAU'i'iiTUIi COTSWOIiD BUCK. 



The accompanying illustration is a portrait of a 

 Cotswold Buck, owned by Mr. P. W. Jones, of 

 Amherst, N. H., from the imported stock of Geo. 

 C. Hitchcock, Esq. 



The culture of sheep has been greatly neglected 

 in New England for many years. During the 

 same period, the demand for wool has largely in- 

 creased, and so has the taste for good mutton. 

 Why, then, has wool and mutton growing been 

 constantly on the decrease ? Many a New Eng- 

 land farmer could answer this question in sorrow- 

 ful replies, who has found his pet flock dwindle 

 away night after night, by the act of some fell de- 

 stroyer that no power of his own and no arm of 

 the law could then reach. This has been, in our 

 opinion, the principal cause of reducing the num- 

 ber of sheep in the New England States to about 

 one-fifth of what it was at its highest point. 

 Some other causes undoubtedly existed, — but 

 their destruction by dogs was the principal one. 



Now there is a better state of things, the strong 

 arm of the law, and a better sense of justice, have 

 come to the aid of the farmer, and he is encour- 

 aged once more to see if he cannot meet some- 

 thing of the demand made for wool, and thus keep 

 at home the piles of gold that are sent abroad for 

 it, and gratify the taste that has grown up for good 

 mutton, rather than for so much beef and pork. 



These things are constantly awakening attention 

 to sheep husbandry, so that numerous inquiries 

 are made as to the best breeds for wool and for 

 mutton, for rapid growth, docility, hardiness, and 

 every thing that affects them as profitable ani- 

 mals. 



But opinions are divided, and we believe with 

 entire sincerity ; as locality, and the manner of 

 feeding and tending a flock, would have a decided 

 tendency for or against the profits. Some persons 

 of large experience declare for the Spanish merino, 

 while others greatly prefer the Cotswold or South- 

 down, and perhaps even a few for the Saxony. 

 Then, there are grades of these that are esteemed 

 by some as even preferable to the pure bloods of 

 either class. It is proper for him who has a de- 

 cided preference for any one variety, to hold it in 

 high estimation, and to speak earnestly in its 

 praise, — but it would be folly to denounce other 

 breeds as worthless that may have failed with him, 

 but which have often succeeded well with others. 

 Location and management seem to have a more 

 direct and visible influence upon sheep, than upon 

 any other of our domestic animals. 



We are glad to find our farmers giving more at- 

 tention to sheep husbandry, and believe that in 

 proper localities they will find it more profitable 

 than the raising of milk now is. If the culture of 



