SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 101 



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

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

 Tunisian, 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 

 the Cotswold, and crosses between these two. 



For general purposes of wool and mutton, I recommend most decid- 

 edly the cross from native ewes and Spanish merino bucks ; the pro- 

 geny showing marked improvement, having constitution, fattening 

 properties, thriftiness, and a close, compact fleece. 



For long-combing wools, the best combination flock can be built up 

 on the natives as a basis ; using the Spanish merino bucks for the first 

 cross, and then the Cotswold to give more size and longer staple. 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 lib- 

 eral use of tar a perfect preventive. By another winter, a proper dog 

 law will be enacted, now guaranteed to us in the new constitution. 



In all well-situated and well-managed flocks, the increase and man- 

 ure will amply repay 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 this connection, I may say a few words about the Angora goat, 

 very improperly termed " Cashmere." I have owned these animals 

 from six distinct importations ; those brought over by Dr. J. B. 

 Davis, in 1848, proving to be superior in many respects to any of the 

 more recent importations. One of the most valuable, interesting, and 

 remarkable traits of the Angoras is the rapidity with which fleece- 

 bearing goats can be obtained by using thorough-bred bucks to cross on 

 the common short-haired ewe-goats of the country. The second cross 

 produces a goat with a skin valued for rugs, mats, and gloves. The 

 fifth cross, (known by many breeders as " full blood ") will yield a fleece 

 not inferior to much of the "mohair" imported from Asia. This fifth 

 cross can be readily obtained in five or six years. Thorough-bred 



