HOW TO SELECT GOOD SHEEP. 583 



compactness is preferable, as it is a protection from inclemency of 

 the weather and against the cold rains of spring and fall. 



Gum in the Wool Merino wool prior to washing, should 

 be yolky or oily, but not to the extreme extent occasionally seen, 

 giving it the appearance of being saturated with grease. The 

 extreme tips of the wool may exhibit a sufficient trace of gum to 

 give the fleece a darkish cast particularly on the ram but a black 

 pitchy gum, extending an eighth or a quarter of an inch into the 

 fleece, and which cannot be removed by ordinary washing is objec- 

 tionable. A white or yellowish concrete gum, not removable by 

 washing, is sometimes found in the interior of fleeces. This is a 

 very unfavorable indication. 



Selecting Profitable Sheep for Mutton In selecting 

 sheep for mutton, the choice is deemed best between the South- 

 down and New Leicester breeds. A cross between native sheep and 

 the improved Cotswold is also well adapted for this purpose, and is 

 preferred by many breeders. The chief characteristics I these 

 breeds are as described below: 



The New Leicester Head hornless, long, small, tapering 

 toward the muzzle and projecting horizontally forward. Eyes prom- 

 inent, with quiet expression. Ears rather long, projecting back- 

 ward. Neck broad at the base, and presenting a horizontal line 

 from rump to poll. Breast broad and full; shoulders broad and 

 round, with no angular formation where joined either to neck or 

 back particularly no rising of withers or hollow behind these 

 bones. The arm fleshy down to the knee; bones of the leg small; 

 legs wide apart, no looseness of skin, and comparatively little wool 

 on them. Chest and barrel deep and round, ribs well arched out ; 

 carcass gradually diminishing in width towards rump. Quarters 

 long and full; thighs wide ana full. Pelt moderately thin, but soft 

 and elastic, covered with a good quantity of white wool, not long, 

 but of considerable fineness. 



The South-Down Head small and hornless; face medium- 

 sized, speckled or gray; narrow space between nose and eyes; thin 

 under jaw; ears tolerably wide, and like the forehead, well covered 

 with wool. Eye full and bright, but not prominent. Neck of med- 

 ium length, thin toward the head, enlarging toward the shoulders, 

 where it is broad and straight. Breast wide and deep, projecting 

 forward between the fore-legs. Ribs come out horizontally from 

 the spine, the last projecting more than the others. Back flat nearly 

 to the setting on of the tail, rump broad and tail set on high up 

 nearly on a level with the spine. Belly straight as the back. Legs 

 medium length ; forelegs straight from breast to foot ; far apart both 

 before and behind, the hinder having a direction outward and the 

 " twist " particularly full. Belly well defended with wool, and 

 wool coming down before and behind to the knee and the hock. 



The Cotswold This is a large breed of sheep, with long 

 abundant fleece, the ewes being particularly prolific and good 



