ly be kept upon any farm; and it not unfrequently happens that a
flock of fifty sheep on a small farm, will yield a larger net profit
than would a flock of five hundred if kept upon the same farm.

When the price of wool is high, the farmers are too reluctant to sell
off their sheep, and thus become liable to an overstock. In fact, this
is now the great danger of the wool-growers of Michigan. The best
economy, and the most judicious management, will be to keep down the
number of your flocks to your means of pasturage and feed; and
constantly aim to improve the grade and quality of those you retain by
disposing of the less desirable specimens for mutton. Your motto should
be to elevate the standard of your flocks, rather than to increase their
number beyond your means of feeding.

Another evil is also to be guarded against,--that of giving your
attention to sheep to the exclusion of cattle. I am aware that in the
past there have been--in this State--few advocates for the raising of
cattle, and that the sound judgment of any man would at once be brought
into question who should attempt to do so. But I think there has been
more of prejudice than reason in this. The farmer, as a mere matter of
policy, should not confine himself to any one thing, as thereby the
fluctuations and changes incident to any branch of business, may very
possibly--nay very probably--disappoint his hopes and expectations. If
he has only sheep on which to rely, a sudden fall in the price of sheep
and wool, or a general prevalence of any of the diseases to which sheep
are always liable, would be a serious disaster to him; whereas, if his
attention is directed to both sheep and cattle, as well as to horses,
swine, &c., his chances of certain and continued success are very
greatly multiplied. In fact, cattle are already commanding enormous
prices in consequence of a general scarcity everywhere, not only for the
shambles, but for the dairy, and this deficiency will not, I apprehend,
be very soon supplied. I have recently visited some of the more highly
cultivated portions of the State of New York, where I found good fair
cows were worth _one hundred dollars_ each and not easily to be had at
that. Good sized, first quality working oxen, are now worth here $250
per pair; and a large lot of cattle has recently been sold for beef in
Flint, at seven cents per pound, live weight. Horses, too, are scarce,
and must continue to be so for a long time, as their dest