Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-08-27
REPORT ON EEP.
To the President and members Of the r. H. 4
BY G. S. KENWAY.

BY G. S. KENWAY.
To the President and members of the r. II. A
Society
GENTLEMEN:-Although | profess TO fee
as anxious as anybody that each member O
Society should do his duty, especially wher
some particular duty is pointed out and as
signed to him, by the general wish, felt
good deal puzzled on seeing my name placed
a second time at the head of the committee tt
report on sheep, and it occurred to me tha
the infinity of other subjects embraced by the
science ofagriculture might with all respect
| saw have been taken better advantage Of
For although in Nature there may be nothing
new under the sun, cage cannot wither her
nor custom stale her infinite Variety" and
the charm of novelty might have been as
agreeable and possibly as instructive to our
present meeting. had determined not to
report this season, and incur the charge o
neglect rather than tuice essay to entertain
or instruct a company amidst whose intelIi-
gence mine must needs shine with a very
smoky light, by the wonderful things that
might be said on the stupidest animal in all
creation.
But the exhibition on Wednesday and a
slight circumstance attending it, coupled with
very friendly request from our untiring
president. have prompted me at this late
hour, and in the absence of any communi-
cation from my comrades whose deplorable
forgetfulness cannot account for, to offer a
few remarks-on one single point only con-
nected with the subject.
Three sheep only. very young ones, were
exhibited in the early part of the day, owned
by Mr.. Sea. Two Merino ewes imported
from Sydney, and one half breed, reared neal
Honolulu. These poor unconscious little
things, standing there almost unnoticed by
the crowd, damned with faint praise ifpraised
at ALL and dripping wet with the salt water
they had passed through, looked and doubt
less felt little and humble enough in the pres
ence of those illustrious bulls and so forth
who carry away prizes with such monstrous
ease and Indifference as to astonish the Judg-
es themselves almost, and could not have pre-
sumed to entertain the remotest idea that pos
si6lya and without profanity, in them and
their Seed might all the focks of Hawaii be
blessed
Mr. Sea comforted himself delightfully."- on
being at least quite sure of one prize, because
there happened to be no competition 1t was
quite pleasure to hear him. Yet his con-
6dence might have stood on higher ground,
for as far as l am able to judge, his sheep
had finer wool and prettier forms, and were
better bred than any have seen before on
the Islands But to his sudden CONSERVATION,
there appeared later in the day two large
black beasts of foreign breed and very
mysterious pedigree, intending of course to
compete for the prize. They reminded me Of
many things, but chiefly of that serious and
quantity proposed query in the old nursery
rhyme which could not help repeating to
myself" Ba Ba black sheep-hare ye
any ,cool ?' Something Of the sort covered
their big carcases, and very likely enclosed
the making of capital mutton.
Now this is the point am striving to come
at. Are we going to raise sheep on these
Islands for mutton alone, or for mutton and
,cool That is the question. For we can
have good wool, and good mutton, first rate
mutton inside it. And we can raise enough
sheep on these Islands to make mutton
drug, which tcooI nerer can be. And we can
set heads to plan and hands to work, as well
as mouths to feed ON the produce of our pas
lures, and point to our stock not with the
grunt Of an alderman gloating over turtle,
but with the pride of intelligence endeavor-
ing to approach perfection.
Wool from Waimea has been sent to sgd
ney during the last year and with very good
result. 1t is the opinion of an old colonial
wool grower. Mr.. Sparkes, that finer wool
can be raised here than in Australia, and
that the pasturage and grounds. though lin
tied are better. And know that he speaks
sOm the trials he has already been able to
make in Improvement b kare and breeding.
Ther, let US not "yield the easily per-
suaded eyes ito the charming visions of mere
huge mutton. But, beginning at the begin
h'ng, LET us ascertain and acknowledge our
true deficiencies and set about repairing them
IN such way that it shall not be said in after
years we started on the wrong road and got
50 iar that we don't know our way back.
.No~ is the time to consider and determine |
*hat we ought to do and can do, for
In the morn and liquid dew of youth
contagious bastments are most imminent"
r. $. In speaking of Mr. Seas sheep, do
mol wish 1t understood as my opinion that they
are the best on the Islands Other parties,
nr. Mofht for example, have imported pure
oreeds' doubtless as good. Mr.. Seas are
the best have seen.
lSrIMIDArIos NOT CoNvicrIoN-W Who
nE1-