38 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



" The breeds I have tested are the Spanish and French merinos, 

 South Downs, Oxfordshire Down, Leicester, Asiatic broad-tail, or 

 Tunsian, Improved Kentucky Cotswold, and native sheep. I have 

 also crossed nearly all of these varieties. Those between the Spanish 

 merinos and native, and the Cotswold and native, have proved most 

 profitable. My present varieties are the thorough-bred merinos and 

 Cots wolds, and crosses between these two. 



"For general purposes of wool and mutton, I recommend most 

 decidedly the cross from the native ewes and Spanish merino bucks ; 

 the progeny showing marked improvement, having constitution, fat- 

 tening properties, thriftiness, and a close, compact fleece. 



"If the winters are mild, my flocks require feeding about thirty 

 days ; if cold and wet, twice that time. My merino sheep are very 

 healthy. They have had trouble with the sheep bot-fly ; but I have 

 found a liberal use of tar a perfect preventive. 



"In all well selected and well managed flocks, the increase and 

 manure will amply pay all expenses, and leave the fleece clear profit. 

 The fleeces of my flocks, not housed at night, will give an average of 

 seven pounds of wool to the head. 



" The future history of the sheep husbandry of this State, if intelli- 

 gently pursued in accordance with its natural divisions, will show 

 three distinct systems ; that of Northern Georgia will somewhat 

 resemble the industry in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New 

 England ; that of the middle of the State, Kentucky ; and that of 

 the Southern portion (with shepherds and dogs), Texas, Colorado, and 

 California." 



In order that Southern gentlemen who may see this paper 

 should have the views of a thoroughly practical farmer and 

 expert in sheep husbandry at the North, we have requested 

 Mr. William G. Markham, of Avon, New York, President of 

 the New York State Wool-Growers' Association, and Secre- 

 tary of the National Wool-Growers' Association of the United 

 States (whom we have had the privilege of consulting daily 

 during the preparation of this paper), to give some sugges- 

 tions in furtherance of the object of improving and extending 

 sheep culture at the South, and particularly as to the breed 

 of sheep most desirable in that section. He has replied to 

 this request as follows : 



