LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. ' 293 



Of the long-wooled sheep I shall speak of the three suited, ia my opinion, 

 for this locality: Leicesters, Lincolns, and Cotswolds, and of the mediums 

 the downs. 



In the Leicesters there are three distinct classes : The Bakewell, noted for 

 its symmetry, and fineness of style, and early maturity, but it is too fine a 

 sheep, and too closely bred for this section of country. The Yorkshire 

 Leicester is a strong sheep, and while retaining in a marked degree the excel- 

 lent qualities of the Bakewell, is larger, yields a heavier fleece, and matures 

 nearly as soon. There is not much difference between the Border and the 

 Yorkshire, only the Yorkshire retains its wool better. The Yorkshire may be 

 known by the darker colored heads, being better filled up in the collar, and 

 the neck never rising much above the shoulders, being almost on a line with 

 the back. It is also a little fuller in the ribs ; fore feet stand wide apart with 

 wool down to the knee. 



Mr. Parkinson, of Ontario, says: ''About two years ago my flock averaged 

 a little over eight pounds of wool to the fleece. I do not think that the wool 

 of breeding ewes Increases in weight after they have lambed, while the wool of 

 young sheep does. I have had shearings average ten pounds a fleece." 



There is not a great deal of difference between the Lincoln and Yorkshire 

 Leicester. They are a hardier sheep, and retain their atooI better, yielding as 

 aged sheep a better fleece, of about the same quality of wool. Mr. Geary, of 

 London, Ont., says of them: "Of sheep, I prefer breeding pure Lincolns, as 

 I think they are better adapted to this country than either the Cotswold or 

 the Leicester. They retain their wool much better than the Leicesters, and 

 the demand for it is just as good. I have imported from England a large 

 number of Lincolns, with a view to their wool, to their quality as mutton 

 sheep, and their general adaptability to this country. They are a very hardy 

 and easily kept sheep." My brother bred pure Lincolns, and was better 

 pleased with them than any other sheep. His sheep were pure Lincolns, and 

 were sold entirely to Qhio men for breeding purposes. The last lot of shear- 

 lings he had of twelve choice, an average of ll^- pounds of wool was obtained, 

 and of a shearling ram l^f pounds, the wool being even in fibre, of remark- 

 ably fine lustre, and some of it 17 inches long. He also bred Leicesters at the 

 same time, but his preference was for Lincolns. The average yield of wool in 

 flocks, however, will be found about the same as Leicesters, where the sheep 

 are all young — about eight pounds. 



The Cotswold is in some sections of country a favorite sheep, Mr. Stone, 

 of Guelph, Out., thinking as much of them probably as any other man in that 

 country. They are characterized by the peculiar tuft of wool on the forehead, 

 which, in full-bred sheep, hangs down between the eyes, covering the face; 

 by their curly wool heavily set on the neck and shoulders ; not as full in the 

 ribs as the Leicesters. They grow to about the same size as the Leicesters, 

 but do not mature as early; are a little coarser in mutton, as well as in wool. 

 The average wool weight is about the same, but they do not retain their wool 

 as well, and on that account, in the western part of Ontario, few of them are 

 bred at the present time. The great demand for Cotswold sheep in Ontario 

 has been from American buyers, especially from Kentucky. 



Of the medium wools, or the downs, I think that none will be as profitable 

 to handle as the Oxford or Hampshire downs. As to the two classes, there is 

 not much preference. They mature early, are strong, active sheep, and their 

 mutton brings in England a penny a pound more than the long-wooled sheep. 

 Their wool is better adapted to the manufacture of domestic goods, such as 



