Early Lamb Raising. 



During the last three years expernnents have been made to com- 

 pare the merits of Shropshires and Horned Dorset sheep as breeds 

 to produce " Hot house " or winter lambs. In the summer of 18U1, 

 the College of Agriculture and the Experiment Station owned but 

 few sheep suitable for this trial, but it was tliought best to begin 

 the test with the available number and continue it through a num- 

 ber of years. Additions M^ere to be made to the flock as opportunity 

 offered and suitable quarters could be provided. In carrying out 

 this test, particular reference has been given to the growth of grade 

 lambs of these two breeds for the reason that the great majority of 

 early lambs sent to the New York market are a cross of thorough- 

 bred males on grade merino ewes. These ewes as bought or bred 

 by the early lamb raiser have more or less blood of the improved 

 mutton breeds, but still not enough to place them in any class other 

 than grade merinos. In this connection it may be of interest to 

 note the development of the merino sheep and the causes which 

 made tliis breed a favorite for so many years. 



As the great improvement of the merino was made by American 

 breeders, they became admirably adapted to the climate and to the 

 conditions under wl)ich the farmer of the Middle and New England 

 states kept this class of stock. 



The ability of the A merican merino to thrive on rather scanty 

 pastures, the bleak hillsides and the half cleared fields has been a 

 potent factor in subduing and improving much land that would 

 otherwise have remained unproductive. These sheep have done a 

 most excellent service for the American farmer and with a greater 

 profit for the investment and labor bestowed than could have been 

 obtained by any other breed at the time these improvements were 

 made. This together with the reluctance of the sheep owners to 

 give up that which has served them well has kept the merino sheep 

 in the State for a number of years at very little or even no profit. 



In the trials made in raishig early lambs from merino or grade 



