40 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



Our market for these sheep, of late, has been in the South and West ; 

 principally California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. It has been 

 the especial study of our breeders to produce such rams as, when 

 crossed upon the common or native sheep of those sections, will pro- 

 duce the most valuable results in wool and mutton. 



The great bulk of all wool used is merino clothing wool; requir- 

 ing strong fibre, of medium length and fineness. 



It is unquestionably true, that cultivating the finest quality of wool 

 has a tendency to produce effeminacy, resulting in a fine-boned, deli- 

 cate sheep. 



It is also the experience of our breeders that great length of staple 

 is incompatible with density of fleece. In breeding for great length of 

 staple, we do so at a sacrifice of density which, of all characteristics, is 

 most difficult to secure and retain. In no other way can so much be 

 accomplished in this direction as by the use of wrinkly rams. 



The most desirable type of sheep for the wool-growing sections of 

 the South and West must possess, fast, constitution. This implies a 

 broad, deep chest, strong heavy-boned legs, large feet, broad short 

 head and nose, after the s bull-dog pattern, and carcass modelled as 

 nearly after a short-horn bull as possible. 



In fleece, one of the most important considerations is density : which 

 better protects the sheep from storms, and the wool from dirt ; gives 

 greater weight of fleece ; and, in hot climates, better protects the yolk 

 necessary for a healthy growth of wool. 



It is the impression of our sheep men that Northern sheep, when 

 taken South, shear much lighter fleeces than at home ; and that, to 

 keep up the weight of their flocks' fleeces, rams must be bred North. 



The fleece should be even over the entire body, covering well the 

 head, legs, and belly ; and of medium quality, suitable for clothing 

 wools. 



It is the aim of our breeders to furnish rams which will soonest 

 produce this type of sheep when crossed upon the light, dry, thin- 

 fleeced native Mexican and Texas sheep. 



Much has been said by wool merchants, and even wool-growers who 

 are ignorant of the true theory of our breeding, against the wrinkly, 

 greasy, dirty-looking modern American merinos. 



Even Dr. Randall, who, in his day, was the highest known author- 

 ity on sheep matters, in his " Practical Shepherd " denounced these 

 exaggerated types of this class of sheep as " an unmitigated nuisance ; " 

 and yet the experience of the doctor subsequently convinced him that 

 he was in error, and that in no other way could radical defects in a 



