SECRETARY'S REPORT. 139 



take too much of the long wool, while others are too small and 

 short-coated. The owner formerly divided his flock into three 

 parts, putting- a half-bred ram to the ewes that were about right, a 

 Cotswold to the small ones, and a Down to the coarser sheep. By 

 constant attention to these points a flock may be brought to some 

 degree of uniformity, but the breeder frequently found that if the 

 fleece was a little too short, or the face rather too white, by using 

 pure Cotswold or Down rams he rushed into the other extreme, the 

 produce too much resembling their sires. There is now no need 

 of running back to the pure breeds, as there are numerous Down 

 Cotswold rams to be found varying in size, color and wool, accord- 

 ing to the fancy of the breeder, which will meet the deficiencies 

 of any half-bred flock. Some farmers have failed in presei'ving the 

 true character of the Down Cotswold from using inferior rams. 

 Because the ewes were mongrels, they thought any cross-bred 

 sheep with a gray face would do. No such thing ; the less distinct 

 the breed of ewes, the more pure and well bred should be the ram ; 

 consequently a sheep should be procured from the oldest and best 

 Down Cotswold breeders. The lambs would be more like the ram, 

 and so produce a more even lot of sheep than if he had been put to 

 any true bred flock." 



The kind of sheep most desirable on the whole in any given case, 

 depends chiefly on the surface, character and fertility of the farm 

 and its location. At too great a distance from a good nieat market 

 to allow of a profitable sale of the carcass, the Spanish Merino is 

 doubtless to be preferred, but if nearer, the English breeds will 

 pay better. Mutton can be grown cheaper than any other meat. 

 It is daily becoming better appreciated, and strange as it may seem, 

 good mutton brings a higher price in Boston market and in many 

 large towns than the same quality does in England. Its substitu- 

 tion in a large measure for pork would contribute materially to the 

 health of the community. 



Winter fattening of sheep may often be made very profitable and 

 deserves far greater attention, especially where manure is an 

 object — (and where is it not ?) In England it is considered good 

 policy to fatten sheep if the increase of weight will pay for the oil 

 cake or grain consumed ; the manure being deemed a fair equiva- 

 lent for the other food, that is, as much straw and turnips as they 

 will eat. Lean sheep there usually command as high a price per 

 pound in the fall as fatted ones in the spring, while here the latter 

 usually bear a much higher price, which gives the feeder a great 

 advantage. The difference may be best illustrated by a simple 

 calculation. Suppose a wether of a good mutton breed weighing 

 80 pounds in the fall to cost 6 cents per pound ($4.80) and to 

 require 20 pounds of hay per week, or its equivalent in other food, 



