PECULIARITIES OF SHEEP. 87 



head, the variations in which, as far as the dry foods are con- 

 cerned, depended on the varying original weights of the 

 different lots; and looking only to the amounts consumed 

 per 100 Ibs. live weight of animal, or to produce 100 Ibs. of 

 increase, it was found that, although the oilcake and clover 

 chaff were in each case given in proportion to the original 

 weights of the sheep, yet the result was that, taking the 

 average throughout the entire period of the experiment, the 

 Leicesters had less of these dry foods in relation to their 

 average weight than any of the other lots, and more particu- 

 larly than the Hampshires, Sussex Downs, and Cotswolds. 

 Notwithstanding this, however, the Leicesters also ate less 

 in relation to their average weight of the turnips, which they 

 were allowed ad libitum, than any of the other breeds. This 

 less consumption of total food in relation to their weight by 

 the Leicesters might be in their favour, if the result were 

 that they consumed also less for the production of a given 

 amount of increase. But the fact was, that, in relation to 

 the increase they yielded, the Leicesters consumed quite as 

 much food as the cross-breds, and notably more than the 

 Cotswolds. Leicesters, cross-breds, and Cotswolds, however, 

 all gave a larger amount of gross increase for a given amount 

 of food consumed than either the Hampshires or the Sussex 

 sheep."* 



In the annexed table the classification of breeds is given, 

 in which the weight and colour of different kinds of sheep, 

 and the weight and value of their fleeces are noticed. The 

 table has been principally drawn up with the aid of Pro- 

 fessor John Wilson's Essay on the various breeds of sheep 

 in Great Britain, published in 1855: 



* MORTON'S Farmer's Calendar. 



