354 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



1806, their flock, through that of Compton of Learmouth, 

 supplied a part of the Mertoun flock of Lord Polworth. 

 This flock has been bred with the greatest care since 1802, 

 and by judicious selection and without outside blood has 

 been made the premier flock of the breed. 



The Border breed has a white face, free from wool. The 

 English Leicester may have a small tuft, and may be 

 bluish white in color. At one time, blue faces were in 

 fashion. The head and eye are important points in a 

 quick-feeding animal. " Never pick a rascally head and 

 a bad eye," no matter what the carcass may be, is the ad- 

 vice of a famous breeder. 



428. Uses of Leicester sheep. The Leicesters are 

 used very much for crossing purposes, to get early lambs 

 for the market. Having been bred more for mutton than 

 for wool, the breed has so far not been so widely distributed 

 in America as its good qualities deserve. Of late years, 

 however, the market for fat lambs has become a feature, 

 and there is now more demand for the Leicester for cross- 

 breeding. For mutton alone, the breed is inferior. It is 

 too large and too fat, unless killed young. The cross-bred 

 mutton on Hampshires or Merinos is superior to the pure- 

 bred. The Border Leicester-Cheviot cross has found 

 much favor for the production of choice mutton for the 

 British market. 



The wool of the Leicester is fine and long, and the fleeces 

 will weigh nine to eleven pounds. Fine-wool rams on 

 grade Leicester ewes produce a fine, compact fleece that is 

 heavier than that of the Leicester pure-bred. 



For grazing, the Leicester is in no way superior. It is 

 not specially hardy, and cannot rustle sufficiently well to 

 adapt it to much of the range lands. 



429. Distribution. The Leicesters are at home in 



