SHEEP HUSBANDRY, Uy 



somewhat larger in size, less compact in form, yielding larger fleeces 



but of coarser fiber, usually better milkers, rear their young with 



less care, and come to maturity earlier than other Merinos. 



The South Downs are a distinct race, noted more particularly for 



their mutton. They produce a medium grade of wool, ranging from 



three to six pounds, and are excellent mothers, quite sure to raise 



their lambs which come to maturity rapidly and are ready for the 



butcher much sooner than the Merinos. The long woolled sheep are 



very dissimilar to either of those I have named, being of larger 



size bearing coarse, long wool, clean leoi;s and faces except the 



Cotswolds, which usually have w^ool upon their foreheads. I think 



these sheep, with the same amount and kind of food, will grow about 



the same weight, and will raise their lambs as well and as early, the 

 one as the other, and nearly the same quantity and quality of wool 



per head, viz : from four to eight pounds. 



I think every man should be governed in his selection by his 

 locality. If he prefers to rear sheep for their wool, irrespective of 

 their lambs for the butcher, I am of the opinion that the fine woolled 

 races will yield m.ore for the food consumed than any others, but if 

 early large lambs are desirable, the long woolled are unquestionably 

 preferable, or if we desire both or wool of a medium grade, a cross of 

 the Merinos with the long woolled, will produce satisfactory results, 

 and will pay a larger profit to the producer than any distinct breed 

 aside from sales of fancy sJieep^ a( fancy prices, to fancy 

 breeders, which of course must be pure blooded of some kind. I 

 have more desirable points in some of my grade sheep than in any of 

 my pure blooded. I prefer to cross a fine woolled buck upon long 

 v.-ool!ed ewes, as in this case the lambs are small, and the long woolled 

 sheep being great milkers and good mothers, they receive nourish- 

 ment enough to insure rapid growth and early maturity; and in a 

 cross of a long woolled buck upon a fine woolled ewes, vice versa. I 

 know quite well that some celebrated writers disagree with me and 

 contend that scarcely ever is the cross what we desire, but is marked 

 decidedly one y^ay or the other ; true we do not in all cases get a 

 perfect cross, but in a majority of cases I have been gratified with 

 the result. I admit and even advise that the men, who possess in- 

 tellectual and pecuniary ability, should confine themselves to some 

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