SHEEP. 266 



wool is but four per cent. ; wool, therefore, may be grown with profit in the districts of the 

 remotest interior favorable to its production.&quot; 



Other arguments in favor of sheep husbandry, and which in fact, might be worthy of 

 consideration of every farmer, may be summed up as follows: 



A farm can be well stocked with sheep for considerably less money than with horses 

 cattle, or swine, and sheep will approach nearer to utilizing everything that is produced on the 

 farm than any other animal; besides, with sheep less labor will be required in converting this 

 food into the products of the stock, and the profits will be realized sooner and more 

 frequently than will any other farm stock, except swine. Less expenditure is required for 

 shelter and fencing, and less labor is involved in herding, where outside pasturage is 

 accessible and preferred, as is sometimes the case on prairies and table lands, or extensive 

 ranches. Aside from the above considerations, a fine income on the capital invested can be 

 realized, without the sale of the stock, which is not the case with other animals, since the 

 profits of the wool product alone, aside from that of lambs and mutton, make the enterprise 

 a desirable one. 



Breeds of Sheep. The distinct breeds and sub-varieties of sheep are very numerous. 

 It would be impossible to enter into a description of each, as our space will not admit, neither 

 would it be of special advantage to the general farmer; we shall therefore confine our 

 descriptions and observations principally to those breeds that are considered the most valuable 

 by agriculturists and breeders generally. Some English writers class their different varieties 

 under three distinct heads, viz., the heavy breeds of the plains, such as the Cotswolds, 

 Lincolns, Leicesters, Teeswaters, etc.; those adapted for downs and similar localities, such as 

 the Oxford Downs, South Downs, Hampshire Downs, Shropshires and Dorsets; and the 

 mountain breeds, which are the Chevoits, and the Blackfaced or Heath breeds. 



Besides these, there are valuable cross-breeds that are constantly acquiring increased 

 importance. The general classification of breeds in this country is not according to adaptation 

 to their respective habits, but more particularly with respect to the length of the wool; thus, 

 we have a class of fine-wooled sheep, such as the Merino, for instance, which is considered 

 the standard and best of the class, the distinguishing characteristic of which is its very fine 

 short wool; then there are the British short- wooled breeds, or what are sometimes called the 

 middle wools,&quot; comprising a class whose wool is only of medium length and fineness, called 

 the &quot; middle wool &quot; class, such as the Oxford Downs, South Downs, and the Hampshire 

 Downs, etc. ; beside these, there are the long- wooled class having fleeces of very long wool, 

 though the fibre is rather coarse, of which the Cotswolds, Leicesters, and Lincolns are the 

 best examples. Aside from the distinct breeds, there are a great variety of grades and natives, 

 some of which are very valuable. 



Many of the desirable qualities both for wool and mutton are secured by crossing those 

 breeds, each of which possesses one of the qualities desired in a marked degree, thus 

 combining the essential qualities; for example, if a farmer wishes to combine the two qualities 

 of producing wool and mutton by a cross, this can be accomplished by crossing a Merino 

 ewe with the Lincoln, Cotswold, or Leicester ram, thus securing a strong and hardy 

 constitution with good size, and a grade of wool that in many localities will bring as good a 

 price as the wool of finer fibre. 



The native flocks are greatly improved by crossing with breeds of superior quality; still, 

 the thoroughbred sheep are generally to be preferred, and they are now sold at prices that 

 come within the means of most farmers; besides they increase so rapidly that quite a flock 

 can be produced in a few years from a single pair. 



Native blood should by no means ever be introduced into a flock of thoroughbred sheep, 

 as it will be a great evil, and result in deteriorating the value of the flock. We do not 

 recommend natives in forming a new flock, but where the farmer has a flock of natives in his 



