50 Report upon the Agricultural Features 



its beauty and <lural)ilitj, no one can wonder at the manufacturer 

 turning his attention to the production of ch)ths of coarser 

 quality, suitable to the present fashion. But since the manufac- 

 turer no lonji^er requires the \n^\\ fme wool in quantity, the price 

 naturally falls, and the agriculturist ceases to produce an article 

 that is no longer remunerative." 



The Archduke Albrecht, Count Fries, and the Keltschan 

 Sugar Company all contributed specimens of Southdown-Merinos,, 

 from Silesia and Moravia. Sheep similarly bred by Count 

 Thun-Hohenstein, Peruc, were white or speckled in the face, 

 and white legged ; they were very well fleshed, and carried 

 excellent fleeces. In comparing these sheep with the Cotswold 

 cross it was noticeable that the Southdown-Merino wool was 

 shorter, thicker on the skin, and scarcely possessetl the lustre 

 of the Cotswold cross. Count Thun's crossbreds are put up to 

 feed at eleven months old. As the crossing of English sheep 

 with the Continental races must be of deep interest to English 

 breeders, the following statement has been translated regarding 

 the proceedings of the Keltschan Sugar Factory Company, 

 and the results they have arrived at after importing English 

 pure-bred sheep. This statemejit derives greatly increased in- 

 terest from the fact that thousands of estates now stocked with 

 fine Merinos would be rendered more profitable by following the 

 advice of this spirited Moravian Company. 



" The Keltschan Sheep Flocks in Moravia. — Our leased farms, of 

 4400 Austrian joch (equal to 6258 English acres), are appro- 

 priated to the keeping of sheep on account of the hilly character 

 of the land, and the fruit-trees which are planted over the pastures. 



" The Merino flock which formerly existed on the estate was 

 not calculated to produce a profit, on account of the low price of 

 fine wool, and the small amount realised for the cull sheep. 

 This was especially the case with the flock in question, which 

 was hardly to be expected to pay for the rich food produced by 

 the sugar factory by converting it into wool and mutton. 



" It was our object to constitute a breed of sheep which would 

 give us weighty animals likely to pay for this abundant and rich 

 food. 



" In order to attain this result with the least outlay we 

 adopted crossing, and in the case of one flock we allied the 

 good Merino ewes Avith imported Cotswold rams. 



" The result of this cross not only completely satisfied our 

 expectations, but a long way excelled them. The crossed produce 

 were of strong constitution, and were quick in arriving at maturity, 

 becoming prime fat at 12 to 14 months old. They paid more for 

 their fodder than any other kind of stock, and we give this 

 opinion after an extensive experience in cattle and sheep-feeding. 



