SHEF.P. 341 



perpetuated. There are peculiarities of form <>r appearance 

 in each, which should be carefully observed. Neither should 

 a violent cross ever be taken for the purpose of perpetuation, 

 as suggested, under the head of principles of breeding, in a 

 previous chapter ; such as between those possessing totally 

 opposite properties, as the Merino and Long Wools; and there 

 is no conceivable advantage in mixing the middle wools, 

 South Downs, &c., with either. Lord Western has long 

 experimented on the blending of the Merino and Long Wools 

 through several generations, without any success, nor is it 

 believed to be attainable. There is no evenness or integrity 

 of character either in the animal or fleece from such mix- 

 tures, nor is it possible to foretel the character of progeny 

 from such bastard crosses. The general rule, that like be- 

 gets like, will not hold true here, for the animal comes large 

 or small, with a long or short fleece, fine or coarse, or inter- 

 mixed ; and this too is repeated through numerous genera- 

 tions, when the immediate parents exhibit properties altogether 

 unlike the offspring, and which it derives from some remote 

 ancestry. This practice will do to produce lambs for the 

 butcher, as the consequence of a fresh cross is greater stami- 

 na and thrift ; and it is found that lambs thus bred, attain an 

 early and full development. Thousands of such are annually 

 bred on the banks of the Hudson, Long Island, and around 

 our large cities, and in the worst possible way ; as the large, 

 coarse ram is used on the delicate Saxon ewe ; yet the lambs 

 thrive and command a good price in the market, and the 

 owner is satisfied to pocket the result. Yet nothing could 

 be more absurd than to propagate from such progeny for any 

 other purpose. 



The mixture of breeds of similar character, is attended 

 with the best consequences. Such was the intermingling of 

 the improved Leicesters with the Cotswold and Lincolnshire, 

 by which the latter were refined; and such was the use of the 

 latter with the Leicesters, when they became impotent and 

 almost worthless from over-refinement in breeding. Good 

 results have followed the mixture of the South and Hampshire 

 Downs. A marked improvement in the Merino in this conn- 

 try, has been claimed by Mr. Jams, and several others, from 

 the mixture of the various flocks, which for ages had been kept 

 distinct in Spain ; and the same result is known to have fol- 

 lowed a similar course with the Rambouillet and Saxon flocks. 

 The ewe goes with young about five months, varying from 

 145 to 162 days. Each flock-master will of course deter- 



