280 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



This season the forty ewes produced eighty-two lambs; but, owing to unfavorable causes, we 

 lost ten lambs, or such portion of the same as have not been already treated with mint sauce. 

 This prolific tendency is a point of great importance, for it is not with the Shropshires as it 

 is with some of the larger breeds, that a fine single lamb is more esteemed than a double. 

 The ewes are good mothers, and can do jusLice to their offspring; moreover, it is always 

 profitable to assist nature by nutritious diet. Next, the Shropshire is a hardy sheep, suitable 

 for a large range of soils, and capable of close folding, without sensible loss of size. The 

 yield both of mutton and wool is far greater than from the Southdown, or other short wool 

 breeds. Hampshires may arrive at greater weight, but they require more time. The 

 proportion of bone and offal is greater, and the wool much less.&quot; 



Mr. J. R. Dodge, so well and favorably known as an agricultural writer, describes the breed 

 as follows: &quot; This breed is now of larger size than the Southdown, with longer face of uniform 

 dark tint, a full and spirited eye, spreading ears of good size, and a forehead rather flat and well 

 wooled. They are very prolific, the ewes generally bringing doubles if well cared for, and, 

 what is better still, the mothers are amply able to bring up the lambs in good condition. 

 They excel the Southdowns in yield, both of mutton and wool. They scarcely attain the 

 weight of the Hampshires, but reach maturity earlier, and have less bone and offal. Their 

 fleece-weight is generally from five to seven pounds. The meat is like the Southdowns in 

 fineness of texture, the pi-esence of fat in the tissues, and richness of color. At twelve or 

 fifteen months they will sometimes reach twenty pounds per quarter. They bear close folding 

 well, are found hardy in moist climates, and will endure a wide range of soils and feeding.&quot; 



They are peculiarly adapted for crossing with the long- wooled breeds, and readily 

 impress their desirable qualities upon their progeny. 



The Long- Wooled Breeds. Of this class of sheep, the principal breeds are the 

 Cotswold, Leicester, and Lincoln, the Cotswold in this country being the most numerous and 

 popular; but in England, where they have their origin, Cotswolds and Leicesters are 

 regarded with about equal favor. 



The long- wooled sheep are the largest known and produce the best quality of combing 

 wool, which is admirably adapted by its length and lack of felting properties to the manu 

 facture of worsted, bombazine, etc.; besides, it is used in manufacturing blankets, carpets, 

 and other coarse woolen materials requiring great length of staple in the wool. This class of 

 sheep are also valuable for mutton, fatten readily, and are strong and hardy. 



They are hornless, with white, open faces of very long wool of rather coarse fibre, are 

 docile, but less timid than the Merinos and some other varieties. 



These breeds are said to have been originally coarse, long-legged, and rangey, but always 

 yielding large fleeces. About a hundred years ago the celebrated English breeder, Bakewell, 

 made marked improvements upon the Leicesters, beginning by selecting the best animals of 

 the flock, and by good feeding and general management, always selecting the choicest 

 animals for perpetuating his flock, eventually produced a breed characterized by such an 

 improvement upon the original stock as to render them, in all essential points, an entirely 

 different breed, and one which the improved Leicesters of the present time furnish us a 

 good type. 



