SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 45 



Connected with the slaughter-houses at Brighton are immense refrig- 

 erators, where the animals slaughtered can be kept for a long time. 

 The same system is now introduced on board ship, rendering the 

 transportation of fresh meat a very easy matter. 



I was astonished at the extent of the abbattoir, and the system which 

 pervades the establishment. There is nothing lost, and the greatest 

 cleanliness prevails. The hoofs and shin-bones, after having the oil 

 extracted from them, are sent to Europe, and used in the manufacture 

 of buttons, &c. The fat is tried out in large boilers, and converted 

 into tallow. The blood and scraps of meat are dried, and the heads 

 ground into bone-dust ; the whole being converted into the Stockbridge 

 fertilizers, which are manufactured in a large building near the abbat- 

 toir. All disagreeable fumes arising from the rendering process are 

 conducted into a large chimney, and there consumed. Nothing goes 

 into the river but pure water. 



I may mention, that I saw two or three sheep wandering about the 

 yards, apparently quite at home and very tame. These, I was informed, 

 were " flock leaders," and used to lead the flocks of sheep which come 

 by the cars, to any desired place. They are thoroughly trained, and 

 are considered very valuable. 



The peculiar capacity for growing mutton sheep in certain 

 parts of Kentucky is given by the limestone soils, which pro- 

 duce permanent pastures of the nutritious blue grass. Indeed, 

 large size in all animals is a characteristic of this country. 

 This has been attributed to the calcareous character of the 

 soil, which, supplying material for bone, favors the enlarge- 

 ment of the skeletons of all animals. The reports to the 

 Agricultural Department say that no property in Kentucky 

 pays better than sheep. One correspondent says, that " the 

 best results are from grades of the native with the full-blooded 

 Cotswold breed. Three crosses will make a good flock. Full 

 bloods do not herd well. Only a small number can be kept 

 together, say thirty. If large, the flocks of full-bloods dete- 

 riorate." This corresponds with the experience in Canada. 

 The enormous production of Canada long-combing wools is 

 furnished by flocks of from twenty to fifty head, very rarely 

 equalling that number. The most profitable mutton sheep is 

 said by another correspondent to be the Cotswold crossed 

 with the Southdown. 



