Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-05
MISCELLANEOUS,
Farmers Wit.


Farmers Wit.
Editors have not much time Tor reading agricultural
ESSAYS and seldom trouble themselves thereanc IN
less ticy happen BE- fancy farmers, US cts some
times are Turning our exchange papers OF yes,
terday however we found I'm the "Ncw England
Farmer the reports made b.; the committees appoint
cd 10 adiudqe the merits different objects at the last
Exhibition of the Worcester (Nlass) Agricultural So
cicty. The following, which happened to catch our
eve in rowing over the columns winch contain these
reports being little out of the regular order and style
of these rural compositions having rather amused us
NAV also he acceptable 10 rradcrS.-.Nut. Int.
CoMnrrrEE o. SHErr.-joScph .Mson, (7fmPhto",J
CbairmaH.
The committee appointed t. award premiums on
sheer respectfully submit the following report
Like the shepherds of antiquity, your committee
feel themselves honorcd in having charge of flock OF
sheep We have felt any OF that antpathv tor
this useful and inoticnsivc animal, which induced a
distinguished Southern gentleman to say that he would
90 mile out of hIs way 10 KICK sheep On the cen
trary we have always entertained feelings OF Kindness
towards this humble though friend OF man
kind Nor do We feel any SacepShnsss in acknow-
lodging our dependent relation TO them as the receivers
of their cast-o garments to cover our nakedness ana
protect from the cold.
In its wild savage state, the sheep IS said to BE-
bold courageous and fleet ANIMAL able to oppose and
defend itself against other animals of It's own Size or
escape By flight from those of superior strength 1t
IS problem that has not yet been solved, how the
privc of its natural courage and boldness As an ex-
p!anaton of this paradox, your committee will merc
udc to the fact, that the ancient shepherds bcguiicd
the hours while tending hc.r focks, III performing ON
the harp or Tyre soft and simple strains o
music; which fact affords complete explanation, ac-
cording To principle lad down BY the celebrated
Monesquicu, that soft and plantive music dimnshes
the fcrocity and boldness Of peopc-uncss, indeed
good be given why the same principle
will moi apply sheep which that learned writer has
applied TO men.
II would be matter Of curious inquiry to ascertain
whether with this change which has taken place IN the
character OF the sheep, there has been corresponding
change lis CHRONOLOGICAL Developments. Tins qcS.
ton we will refer TO the phrcnologs;s, and hope
that of them viii examine the subject, and repor,
before the next cattle show 1t isto be prcsuged, that
;lcrc will be found great depression Of the organ OF
d"Structvencss and an unusual elevation OF The organ
OF ShccpiShHsSS
a sheep should be Judged of Ike dandy by the
fincness Of his We beg pardon OF the sheep foi
The comparison-bul it apt! In both eases, the
coat is the most important part of the animal What
sheep good for without fleece, and what Is dan
~ good for without coat
Some Of the sheep examined by your committee were
al superior quality They of different boody
Of Merno, Dishlcy, aud Saxony, mixed with that d
the native sheep. None, however, presented
with golden fleece, ike that which Jason obtained IL
the celebrated Argonauc expeditions; and II is the OPT
MON Of your committee, that that species Of sheep i:
entirely extinct at least, unknown III the count,
covered in these days. it would be kept to perpetua
the stock, instead of being sacrificed to either Jupltc
Mars: and that enough would bc found to content
for the fleece though guarded by the bulls will
brazcn hoofs and horns, and the armed men and tho
secplcss dragon.
Your committee can express no opinion as to the
best mixtures Of blood for the wool grower to obtain
That be determined by variety of circumstances
In conncXion with this subject, however, We will men
ton very excellent suggestion OF good farmer
,,,,fn IN, yh hay, hoo MI
inconvenience to procure some cotton to mi2
with her wool for domestic manufacture, advised he
husband to get cotton ram, so that they might have
cotton and wool ready mixed, from their own flock.
Your committee awarded TO Thomas w. Ward the
premium of seven dollars for the best Mcrino \,
other presented that, by the rules of the
cetv, could be considered his competitor. Foui
Saxony bucks presented by Rejoice Newton, Esq
OF Worcester: but premium is offered by the 80
cIcty tor SaXony bucks, acrcly certify to al
whom il may concern that they had very fine wool
and very large horns
The best Mcrino were presented by Mcssrs
Francis Strong and Charles Hadwin, Of Worcester
and your committee accordingly awarded to them the
premium of eight dollars, which is offered BY the soci
ety. The premium of four dollars for the next best
Mcrino ewes, awarded to William Thompson o.
Dakham. The wool Of these ewes was of very sn
peror quality, and had some appearance Of being mix
of Merno and SaXopy.
The only mixed Merno sheep presented for pre-
mum were FIVE ewes belonging to Thos " Ward, Of
Shrewsbury. They were miXtnr" OF Aerino and
Bakcwc! breeds, and both account of their size and
the quality Of the WOOL entitled the owner i'll the OPT
mon Of the committee, to the premium OF five dollars
which was accordingly awarded to him.
The premium of FIVE dollars for the best native ran,
awarded 10 Hoon Maynard, of Northboro' This
is reputed to be years DID, and though he had
rather mntton-hcaded expression was, TIE whole,
very fine fellow, and did dscrcdit to the place of
his nativity.
Marshall Pratt Of Oxford, presentcda large and very
hne looking ram, which your committee found casting
sleeps eyes al beautiful Dishley eve n the same pen.
The gallant fellow was little disturbed By our pluck
ing a lock Of wool from his side, an examination of
which satisfied the committee that, instead of being
purely native, he had some mixed blood
\ native buck presented by Daniel TcnGey,
ESQ, Of Sutton and also by Joshua Erecth, ofprucc
ton; but though good, they unequal to that of
Mr. Pratt
Daniel Tenney, Esq, Of Sutton, presented four
tive ewes; and, no others being presented, your
mittec had hesitation in awarding to him the pre-
MUM of four dollars.
There were two claimants Tor the premium for the
hest native wcthers. Those presented BY Coolidge
Pratt of Oxford very fine; but after some debate
and much grave consideration the committee resolved
that the two native wethers of John Whitney of
Princeton were the best and therefore awarded t. him
The premium Ct three dollars.
Three rams of the Dshey breed were presented for
premiun--two very clever ones, BY Seth Blanchard,
belonging TO the society of Shakers, in Harvard; but
the largest and best Of the three, the presented
ny Edward Warren, of Northboro'. He had no horns,
but his tail was broad pillow, and would do ad
miraby for the lambs to lay their heads on when they
Jay down to sleep; therefore, after due deberaon, the