FARM ANIMALS 245 



known in this country and is popular because of 

 its being readily adaptable to all climatic conditions. 

 The quality of the meat is recognized as high and 

 the breed is useful in grading up from ordinary 

 scrub sheep. 



The Leicester came from the county of the same 

 name in England and was much improved by the 

 efforts of the famous English breeder, Bakewell, 

 during the middle of the eighteenth century. 

 The Leicesters are somewhat lighter than the other 

 breeds of long-wooled sheep, but heavier than 

 the medium-wooled breeds. They are particu- 

 larly suited to sections where intensive farming 

 is practiced and mature at a very early age. The 

 quality of the meat is excellent, but they fatten 

 readily and have a tendency to become too fat 

 if forced beyond moderation. The weight of the 

 fleece ranges from nine to eleven pounds. 



The Gotswold came from the low, limestone 

 hills of England and has gained great favor through- 

 out the United States since its introduction in 

 1832. This is the largest breed, excepting the 

 Lincoln and they are equal to the Lincoln in earli- 

 ness of maturity. The Cots wold, like the Lincoln, 

 is widely used in crossing with the Merino on the 

 western ranges to produce a general purpose 

 sheep of comparatively heavy fleece with fairly 

 good mutton form. 



The Lincoln is the largest and heaviest of all 

 breeds of sheep, rams weighing frequently from 

 two hundred and seventy-five to three hundred 

 pounds. This breed is particularly adapted to 

 arable regions with level rather than hilly pas- 

 tures, but has recently found considerable favor 

 in the range country of the West in crossing with 

 Merinos to give a mutton form to the grade 



