SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 51 



however, rarely fattens his sheep or lambs for market. They 

 are turned over, at different ages^ in different districts, to be 

 fattened by the farmer of the arable lands, and lower and 

 richer pastures. In the more southerly counties, the increase 

 of a flock of a thousand sheep is sold as lambs. Their sale, 

 with the fleeces, make the whole return of the flock. But 

 the culture of flocks of this or any other race, on a large 

 scale, upon the elevated regions of the South, cannot be re- 

 commended at present. It must be the outgrowth of a gen- 

 eral and more modest system of sheep husbandry. 



We must not pass from the mutton sheep, without refer- 

 ring to a race which seems to be peculiarly adapted to the 

 South, and is hardly known at the North : we refer to the 

 broad-tailed sheep of Africa and Asia Minor. Colonel Watts, 

 of South Carolina, the most experienced flock-master of that 

 State, recommends the culture on the rich bottom-lands of 

 the southern coast, of the African broad-tail, or a cross with 

 the Cotswold. After speaking of the actual tests which he 

 had made of all the principal wool and mutton breeds, includ- 

 ing the one last mentioned, he says : " If the principal object 

 should be to raise mutton for the market, I would certainly 

 recommend the African broad-tailed sheep ; because they 

 mature earlier. . . . Were the question one of long-combing 

 wool, I would cross the Cotswold ewes with the African 

 broad-tailed ram, for all the range of country this side of the 

 Blue Ridge." These statements are exceedingly interesting. 

 They show the possession of a resource for mutton and wool 

 at the South not generally supposed to exist in this country. 

 This race is the oldest known. It is the sheep of Syria and 

 the Bible, the race to which belonged the Paschal lamb ; 

 and should be cherished for its associations, if for nothing 

 else. But travellers speak of the flesh of the animal, when 

 well bred and fed, as " superior to that of any breed on the 

 face of the earth." Its wool furnishes that strong and bright 

 fibre found in the rich Persian and Turkish carpets. It is a 

 natural combing wool ; and the cross referred to might impart 

 brightness, and strength of staple, to the Cotswold fleece. 



The Angora Croat. Our Southern correspondents, Mr. Pe- 



