SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 41 



flock be remedied so advantageously as by the use of a ram possessing 

 the desired characteristics in an exaggerated form. This he freely ad- 

 mitted, and he used upon his own flock of choice-breeding ewes one of 

 the most wrinkly and greasy rams it has ever been my good fortune 

 to see ; and this to retrieve what he had lost in density and weight 

 of fleece by the use of long-stapled, plain, fine-fleeced rams. 



Breeding improved sheep in Western New York is quite unlike 

 wool-growing in the Southern States. To succeed in either, a uni- 

 form supply of nutritious food and drink must be supplied, and sheep 

 kept thriving every day in the year. 



In introducing sheep husbandry in the South, where wool is the 

 main object and mutton an auxiliary, the most profitable sheep to breed 

 is unquestionably the type I have described, resulting from a cross of 

 American merino upon the native sheep of the land. 



In the vicinity of large towns, where early lambs or mutton may be 

 more profitably grown, the Cotswold should be used upon the second 

 or third cross of merinos upon natives ; the Cotswold being more 

 hardy than any other of our mutton sheep, and yet not as hardy as 

 the resultant cross with merinos. In whatever line one is breeding, the 

 SHEEP is of first consideration ; second, take care of the sheep, and you 

 make a success. Very truly yours, 



WILLIAM G. MARKHAM. 



The Culture of Long-woolled Sheep and of other Lanigerous 

 Animals. The formation of flocks of merino sheep, by 

 grading them up from a foundation of the native stock, is 

 recommended for the greater part of the South, as the chief 

 product will be wool ; which, being so easily transportable, 

 can be grown profitably, without reference to accessibility to 

 markets. The vicinity to large cities, unusual railroad facili- 

 ties, or the command of permanent pastures of unusual rich- 

 ness, admit of another branch of sheep husbandry, in which 

 the principal object is large and early lambs. For this class 

 of sheep husbandry, the English races of sheep the Lei- 

 cesters, Lincolns, Cotswolds, and Downs, and varieties of 

 the Cheviot are specially fitted. An important incident 

 to the culture of these varieties is the production of the long- 

 combing wools now in so great demand for the worsted manu- 

 facture. The worsted manufacture of this country, ten years 

 ago of a value not exceeding ten millions, now annually ex- 



