Miscellaneous addresses. 
2 33 
of the seal or walrus flesh in a single day, washing it down with a 
half gallon of train oil; while in the torrid zones, small quantities 
of food of the lightest and simplest character, amply suffice to sup¬ 
ply all the recuperation the human system requires. 
In like manner, cattle that are well and warmly housed during 
our severe winters in this latitude, will keep fat and sleek upon 
about one-half the amount of food the same animals would re¬ 
quire without suitable shelter. 
The raising of sheep is beyond all doubt a branch of husbandry, 
that can be pursued among us with great advantage; and is one 
well adapted to keeping up the land. Concerning the different 
breeds, there is a very great diversity of opinion as to which is the 
best. To my own poorly instructed mind, it has appeared likely 
that the farmer would find it most for his pecuniary advantage to 
turn his attention largely toward the sheep which produce the long 
combing wools, such as the Cotswolds, the Lincolnshire and 
Leicestershire breeds, rather than the Silesians, or the fine Spanish 
Merinos. The former are excellent for their mutton, as well as 
for their long and heavy fleeces, which (because of the many 
modern fabrics now being manufactured requiring long coming 
wools) bring a price equal to the finest Merinos. I must instance 
the example of our thrifty Canadian neighbors, to fortify my 
opinion in this regard. They have turned their attention quite 
extensively to the breeds first mentioned. My principal object, 
however, in mentioning this subject is to elicit discussion out of 
which the real facts may be made to appear, as I apprehend that 
my friend Stilson would have little or no difficulty in presenting 
reasons why the finer wools are more profitable for our Wisconsin 
farmers. 
There is yet another subject about which I think I ought to 
scold the agriculturists of this state, and that is in relation to their 
extravagance and carelessness in the use of agricultural machines ; 
a degree of shiftlessness generally prevailing among the farmers in 
this particular, which would, in any less favored community, prove 
their utter ruin. 
In my own section, which I presume is no worse in this regard 
than the remainder of the state, every farmer appears to think that 
he must have his own reaper, mower, horse rake and threshing 
