,. 



sei 



CROSS-BREEDING. 213 



mon-grade merino ewes, I have failed to meet with a 

 single instance of difficult labor arising from such 

 influence. 



In many instances, for the sake of experiment, 

 the smallest ewes were selected for crossing with the 

 largest rams, but in no case was the labor unusually 

 severe or protracted. 



In establishing the " Charmoise " breed of sheep, 

 M. Malingie-Nouel tell us that he frequently bred 

 his mixed-blood ewes, that did not weigh more than 

 twenty-five kilogrammes, to rams of the New Kent 

 breed that weighed over one hundred kilogrammes, 

 and that, in over two thousand cases of such contrast 

 in the parents, he observed but a single " accident " 

 from the disproportionate size of the lambs. 1 



The size of the young animal at the time of birth 

 is evidently determined by the dam, while its devel- 

 opment after birth may be influenced by the inherited 

 qualities of either parent. 



In the vicinity of large towns a peculiar system 

 of cross-breeding is successfully practised in produc- 

 ing early lambs for the market. 



Pure-bred rams of any of the improved English 

 breeds may be used for this purpose, but the South- 

 downs, from their superior quality of flesh, are gener- 

 ally preferred. 



As the rapid growth and development of the 

 mbs is of the first importance, the ewes, which are 

 selected from common-grade flocks, should be strong 

 .d healthy, although perhaps in low flesh, and, above 

 all, good milkers. 



1 " Encyclopedic pratique de 1'Agriculteur," vol. x., p. 595. 



