

BREEDS OF HORSES FOR TUT. FARM. 599 



spring! HIT rib beneath; the rib coming out horizontally from the spine, 

 and the l:ist rib projecting more than the rest; the back Hat from tin- 

 shoulders to the tail; the loin broad and flat ; the hips wide : thebelK 



he lack ; the legs neither too long nor too short, tine without 



peckled or dark colour; the belly well protected with 



wool, the wool coming down before and behind to the knee, and short, 



close, curled, fine, and 'free from spiry projecting fibres ; the flesh fine- 



grained, and of excellent flavour. 



A good South Down carries more meat in proportion to the offal than 

 does any of the other short-woolled varieties. They are very hardy, grand 

 foragers, and comparatively free from diseases in consequence very much 

 of the character of the chalk soils of the Down hills. In size ami weight 

 of wool they are inferior to the other Downs, but are early maturers, good 

 nurses and prolific. 



THE Mi-: n i NO. We have these from Spain and France, the French 



lcin-_<- considerably the larger. They are spiral horned, white face and 



. fine bone and a fine clear pelt. The wool is exceedingly tine and 



y ; the best fleeces have a dark brown tinge on the surface, 



almost amounting to black, which is formed by dust adhering to the 



\olky projection of the pile, a marked contrast to the rich white 



ur underneath, which, with the rosy hue of the skin, denotes high 



proof. 



This breed is highly valued in the United States and Australia, but as 



has no place in Canada or even in Britain. So much have the Amer- 



icans done that these may br fairly said to be an American Merino. They 



not mutton sheep, although their cross, well done to, has made both 



_-ht and quality at the Ontario Experimental Farm. The length and 



thi< wool, evenness and firmness of staple, that looseness of skin 



and v. go to make an American Merino. 



BREEDS OF HOESES FOR THE FARl. 



rere found cither in America or Australia when thx. con- 

 iv, 1. Now. on the almost boundless prairies of 

 h America, iimn n-e herds, mi ml Trim: many thousands are t< 

 wit! MI- wild li meS, are tlf defendants <.j' a race of 



nish horses, who i from domestication. On becoming emanci- 



! in herds. The hoi^e is now to be met 

 within Country, except Lapland and ( Ireenland. in tin- 



