41 
CROSS BREEDS. —No of Entries 52. 
Judges —George C. Pratt, Waukesha; Simeon Ford, Watertown; 
J. J. McAllister, Albion, IN’. Y. 
Best buck, two years old ; John Ferre, Oconomowoc. $4. 
Second best buck, two years old; Horace Scoville, Lowville. $2. 
Best buck, one year old ; G. H. Canfield, Waterrille. $1. 
Best pen of three buck lambs ; H. E. Coon, Palmyra. $3. 
Best pen of three ewes, two years old; McAllister & White, Albion, 
N. Y. $4. 
Best pen of three ewes, one year old; G. H. Canfield, Waterville. $3. 
Geo. C. Pratt, Esq., Chairman of the Committees on Merinos and 
Cross Breed sheep, accompanied the reports of the Committees with the 
following letter: 
“Waukesha, October 10th, 1854. 
“ Dear Sir, 
“ The exhibition of Merinos and Cross-breed sheep compared very 
favorably with the rest of the Exhibition, and must have been quite 
satisfactory to the wool growers present, when we consider that but few 
years have elapsed since wool growing commenced in Wisconsin ; and it 
is but a very short time since the first attempt was made tow'ards improve¬ 
ment in our flocks. Our experience, though short, has proved that sheep 
husbandry and wool growing is the most profitable business of the farm. 
The first thing the beginner should look for is that breed of sheep 
which will prove the most profitable. Wool growers in all parts of the 
United States, who have had experience, agree that the Merinos are the 
most profitable. I will admit that there are those among us who con¬ 
tend that the coarse-wooled breeds are more desirable, but this mistaken 
notion arises from the want of experience, and from the fact that wool 
buyers in Wisconsin have paid more in proportion to the value for coarse 
than for fine wool, and because they have usually kept small flocks. 
Now the Merino, as well as the coarse grades of sheep, will do much 
better in small flocks ; but those who make wool growing a business must 
necessarily keep large flocks. In such cases they will find that the 
