434 APPENDIX G. 



In proof of the first proposition, that sheep do consume in proportion 

 to their bulk, Mr. Livingston submits, in an appendix to his essay, the 

 record of many experiments which show conclusively that such is the 

 fact; but of his second proposition, that they shear in proportion to their 

 surface, he gives no facts, and I suppose it to be mere theory. The 

 attention of the writer was called to this subject by the Hon. George 

 Geddes, some four years since, and at Ms request the trial was made, 

 and the result has been given to the world by yourself. Experiments 

 of the same character on the same flock have been conducted for three 

 successive years, and their results are recorded in the following tables. 



In one or two points they are not as perfect as I could wish, but they 

 are the best that could be done with so small a flock. Had there been 

 from forty to fifty in each class and every year, the natural law in rela- 

 tion to them mi^ht be nearer in accordance with the facts noted ; for as 

 there are exceptions to all rvUs, I may be giving the exception and not 

 the rule. This can be true only in regard to five and six year old ewes, 

 and five year old wethers. In all other cases, taking the tlu ee years 

 collectively, I am confident that facts of value have been obtained. 



The base of the flock a few years since was Saxon ; they are now 

 classed fi'om one-half to seven-eighths Spanish Merino — a portion of the 

 largest, in 1861, was one-quarter French Merino. In 1861 the ewes 

 raised 35 lambs j in 1862, 30, and in 1863, 70. In the fall of '61 the 

 oldest and largest were sold and replaced by 60 lambs purchased. In 

 the fall of '63, 70 wether lambs were purchased, part of the smallest of 

 them were sold, some three-year old ewes purchased ; and some older 

 ones sold. Other discrepancies that may be noted are attributable to 

 death. They were all brook-washed about two weeks before shearing. 

 The flocks at the time of shearing were in good condition — some of the 

 ewes thin, of course. The four rams in the flock are included with the 

 wethers, to save space, figin-es and calculation. The firet table is the 

 same as published in 1862, in Mr. Randall's Essay, in the Transactions 

 of the N. Y. 8. Agricultm-al Society, except that I have subdivided the 

 sexes. The fifth table is the same as the second one then published, 

 except that I have added the last three classes, and called them one. 

 They were sheared the 26th and 27th of June, 1861 ; 27th, 28th and 30th 

 of June, 1862, and 25th, 26th and 27th of June, 1863. Every sheep and 

 fleece were weighed separately and recorded on the spot. 



[ The tables referred to in the preceding paragraphs are given on 

 the two following pages.] 



