132 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 March, 1916. 



A marked feature in the development of these lambs was the fact 

 that they grew rapidly, produced an abundance of wool, but did not 

 fatten like the Down crosses until nearing maturity. 



Nj. 2.— 3order Leicester Cross. 



These lambs came also very regularly in the early part of July, 

 grew rapidly, and showed the distinctive character of the Border Lei- 

 cester sire. They possessed great length and height of body, and a 

 wool somewhat lighter in quality than the Lincoln cross, but better 

 than the Down crosses. They did not seem to be in the pink of con- 

 dition as freezing lambs until they had reached the age of sixteen to 

 seventeen weeks. The lambs were undoubtedly hardy, and the per- 

 centage of deaths was very much lighter than was the case with the 

 Lincoln cross; in fact, the mortality was as low as any of the crossies, 

 and compared favorably with Southdown. 



Crossbred Ewes with Border Leicester Ram. 



No. 3.— English Leicester Cross. 



This section of the experiment was only carried out for two years, 

 and was replaced in the third by the Suffolk cross, it being thought 

 that the Border and English Leicester crosses were too similar in char- 

 acter, and after deciding to include the Suffolk the English Leicester 

 cross was dropped in its favour. The lambs of the English Leicester 

 cross were born somewhat more irregularly than either the Lincoln or 

 Border Leicester, and did not grow quite so well, nor come to maturity 

 any quicker than either of the above crosses. The wool was somewhat 

 similar to that of the Border Leicester, but at shearing time it was 

 found that the ewes cut slightly heavier fleeces. These English Lei- 

 cester cross lambs seemed to come to maturity between sixteen and 

 seventeen weeks of age. 



