Sheep and Sitkep Husbandry. 181 



some extent, the good qualities of botli, and are a hardy, 

 robust sheep, and will withstand neglect Ijotter than most 

 kinds, and are cidled the best negligent farmer's sheep. 



There are somo essential qualities in the Meriiio sheep 

 that they shoidd alwavs have. The first is a o'ood constitu- 

 tion, which means a hardy, healthy, robust, strong sheep, 

 to which should be added good size and sliape, witli good 

 l>one. We may have a sheep that is straiglit Atwood, 

 straight Hammond, and a pedigree beyond question, and it 

 may have all the fancy points, and if it lacks a good consti- 

 tution we have a poor sheep. This is a fact that will apply 

 in the main to all families of sheep. 



After constitution, the next essential quality is the fleece, 

 which should be of good quantity and quality, of a long 

 and strong staple of wool, which should, so far as possible, 

 be evenly distributed over the body. 



The improvement most needed in the Southdown sheep 

 is in increasing the quantity and improving the (piality of 

 their wool. With this improvement they will make one of 

 the best varieties of sheep for the wants of the times. 



The practice of buying wool at an average price per 

 pound, without regard to its quality and condition, is paying 

 a premium for and encouraging the growth of poor and 

 dirty wool, for grease and filth cost but a trifle per pound 

 compared with choice and clean wool. Wool growers who 

 raise wool above the average, as to quality and condition 

 can do better than to sell it at an average price by sending 

 it to a reliable commission merchant, where it will be sorted 

 and sold according to its merits. This is a safe and satis 

 actory way to sell good wool. It is not to be expected 



