488 
WISCONSIN' STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
vanced live stock husbandry, that the sheep breeders of the United 
States have not heard and realized, and dreamed upon? Gladly do 
I come as a learner among those so able to teach. As a teacher 
there is no encouragement for me; and it is the prompting of the 
hope that the direction I may give to discussion will bring forth 
the results of experience broader and riper than my own, coupled 
with counsel that is begotten of conviction, rather than that any 
idea I may advance may be new or useful to you, that secures my 
consent to occupy any part of your time. 
Long centuries ago, even before history began to record the 
march of events, the sheep had a home in western Asia, and was re¬ 
cognized as the principal source of primeval w’ealth. Its skin cloth¬ 
ed, and its flesh nourished the bodies of patriarachs and peoples be¬ 
fore the quiet of the world was disturbed by whirring spindles and 
murmuring wheels. The coincidence seems fitting that the most 
important contributor to our physical wants should come to us from 
the land also honored as the birthplace and cradle of that greater 
blessing, which ministers to our spiritual needs. Gradually have 
the two widened their field of recognition, until it is reserved for 
the closing quarter of the. nineteenth century to present a consum¬ 
mation of the highest achievement of civil and religious liberty, and 
the best results of agronomic skill, still side by side on the old con¬ 
tinent and the new; the one insuring comfort and plenty for the 
present, the other whispering of happiness and peace hereafter. 
But this practical age will not patiently stand studying the past 
of sheep husbandry. At this time we need to review that past only 
so far as its experiences may prove advantageous in working 
out the higher destiny that is before us. He who stands gazing 
upon the temples others have built, will be jostled by the throng 
that press on to the accomplishment of the work that is allotted to 
them. 
As my remarks are directed so exclusively to merino, I shall con¬ 
fine myself principally to the consideration of the sheep in which 
they are interested; at the same time disclaiming any desire to dis¬ 
parage the recognized merits of the long and middle wools— which 
I could not do if I would. The value of the Cotswold, the Leices¬ 
ter and the “Downs” recognized on both sides of the ocean, i& 
quite too deeply emphasized to suffer by comparison, even though 
overdrawn — (which I shall endeavor to avoid); or pointed with pre- 
