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THE AMERICAN FARMER 



possible without detracting from their value as mutton. Remember, we are speaking of a 

 grade flock now, with no thoroughbreds except the rams that are used. No better cross can 

 be first used on the common ewes, it matters not what quality is most desired, than a Merino 

 ram. It will add from one to two pounds of wool to each lamb, and will give a healthy and 

 thrifty flock of half-breed ewes to breed from. &quot;With these to start on, it is an easy and pleas 

 ant task to shape the flock as desired. If a longer staple, a heavier fleece, and a larger carcass 

 are desired, then a Cotswold ram should be used until the desired standard is reached; if, on 

 the other hand, mutton is the object, use a Southdown ram on the half-breed Merino ewes. 

 Either of these objects, wool or mutton, can be bred on a flock quicker by using direct on the 

 scrub ewes a ram of either of the breeds mentioned, but in doing this we would get the hardy 



IMPROVED KENTUCKY SHEEP. 



Bred by Col. Robert W. Scott, Frankfort, Ky. 



and valuable blood of the Merino, a cross that would certainly be of benefit to every grade flock. 

 A most valuable and desirable grade sheep, and one that comes probably nearer than any other 

 filling all the requirements of the average farmer, is to breed the half-bred Merino ewes in 

 twice to a Cotswold ram, and then on the ewes from these crosses breed a Soiithdown ram. In 

 the first cross with the Merino we get more fleece of finer quality, a long-lived, healthy sheep. 

 Such ewes, bred to a Cotswold. will nearly double the weight of fleece, giving it more length, 



. and at the: same time increasing greatly the size of carcass. Breed these Cotswold-Merino ewes 

 to a Cotswold ram again, and the produce will approach very near a full-blood Cotswold in 

 size and, appearance. The fleece will not be quite as long or heavy as the Cotswold, but it 



