TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 473 



things either. Breed foi' all the size you can possibly combine with quality. 

 The butcher wants the lamb which will dress out the largest percentage 

 of natural flesh in the most valuable cuts, the back and hind-quarters, and 

 you need not think that a bunch of bare-backed, narrow-hind-ended lambs 

 would go through any leading market at the same price that the straight- 

 backed wide thickly fleshed sort would. 



When purchasing rams remember that in addition to being the 

 hardiest finest qualitied mutton breed for the farmer Shropshire are the 

 heaviest shearers of the Down mutton breeds. The dense Shropshire fleece 

 adds to the general thrift of the flock by affording natural complete pro- 

 tection from bad weather and also greatly increase the annual income. 

 From old Shropshire flocks which have been bred for heavy fleeces, rams 

 can be obtained which shear 15 lbs. and upwards of clear white dense 

 wool. To make the largest returns from the flock investments no ram 

 should be used which shears less than 15 lbs. per clip. A large income can 

 be obtained from the wool by careful breeding and not sacrifice anything 

 in mutton conformation. 



Decided masculinity is required in the ram, this being indicated by 

 general burliness of the head, thickness of the neck, and general massive- 

 ness with a bold assertive appearance. A ram with a narrow nose and 

 head, a long slim neck, and lacking in vigor, rarely if ever, was known to 

 be an impressive sire. If you are accustomed to purchasing a ram of 

 the medium class, the additional $5 required for the purchase of a superior 

 one may seem to be quite a large sum, but a small investment in this way 

 nearly always results in a much larger future income from the flock. 

 Those who have used good rams never turn back to using the more 

 common class, and if you get a better ram this year than ever before, 

 your flock will commence to make larger and better returns and make 

 breeding more interesting. 



Best value in sires is obtained by purchasing from the oldest repu- 

 table flock. By introducing such individuality and breeding which has 

 taken the ram breeder a life-time to produce, you are at a comparatively 

 small cost raising your flock to a high standard. Carefully bred rams from 

 a good old flock are, by reason of the superiority of ancestors, reliable 

 sires which will most strongly impress their good qualities upon the off- 

 spring. One of the most profitable results coming from the use of such 

 rams on grade flocks is that the lamb crop is so uniform in type, mark- 

 ings, conformation of body, and density of fleece. Big rams from a flock 

 which has long been bred for size will sire a most uniform lot of large 

 individual lambs. There is great difference between the breeding results 

 from a ram obtained from a really superior flock and another obtained 

 from a more common registered flock. The broad-minded successful 

 breeder is also a better man to do business with and experience has 

 taught him how to meet customers on a fair basis. It is great satisfaction 

 to have relation with breeders whom you know can be depended upon. 

 Their sheep are the highest class, pedigrees correct, prices in accordance 

 with actual value, and all dealings are handled in a business-like manner. 



