SELECTION OF SHEEP. 203 



What was true then is also true at the present time, 

 wherever the necessary appliances are at hand. 



There is no industry that attracts the attention of the 

 citizen not immediately engaged in it as does sheep hus- 

 bandry. The reason for this is obvious, inasmuch as the 

 question of food and raiment enters into its consideration. 

 People eat mutton from choice ; while men wear woollen 

 clothes from necessity: consequently every thoughtful per- 

 son is interested in having the very best mutton and wool at 

 the very lowest possible price. 



I shall therefore, in the short time allotted to me, give my 

 opinion (based in part upon my own experience) as to the 

 best kind of sheep for the farmers in this vicinity to breed 

 for wool and mutton, also to give the experience of some 

 very successful farmers in the raising of early or meal lambs 

 for market. 



I know, that, at the present time, there is a heated discus- 

 sion going on, engaged in, by the friends of the different 

 breeds; viz., the long-wools, embracing the varieties of Cots- 

 wolds, Leicesters, and Lincoln ; the middle-wools, embra- 

 cing the varieties sometimes called "Downs," or Southdown, 

 Hampshiredown, Oxfordshiredown, .and Shropshiredown ; 

 and fine-wools, embracing the Merinos of the numerous 

 types of the American, French, Spanish, Silesian, and so on. 

 In this discussion I do not propose to take part: they all 

 have their merits. 



Having first decided what you desire to accomplish with 

 your flock of sheep, then select the kind that will (from the 

 best information you possess) meet your wants. If for wool 

 alone, without regard to mutton, I think the testimony is 

 in favor of Merinos; if for mutton, then the long-wools, 

 any of the varieties. But if you desire to combine the two 

 qualities of producing wool and mutton, then by all means 

 take the middle-wools (the Southdown being foremost in 

 the list) ; or what is still better in my judgment is to cross 

 fine-wool ewes with a Lincoln, Cotswold, or Leicester ram, 

 thus securing a strong, robust, and hardy constitution with 

 good size, and a grade of wool for which the wool specula- 

 tors (in this vicinity) will allow you just as much per pound 

 as though it were Combing or Delaine. 



I am well aware that it is an absolute necessity to have 



