234 THE STUDY OF BREEDS. 



(2) The average weight of the rams in good flesh is about 

 200 to 220 pounds and of the ewes 150 to 160 pounds. 



II. Adaptability. 



(1) They are well adapted to hilly lands, where hardihood 

 is an important essential, but they can also be successfully 

 reared on undulating surfaces. 



(2) They should do well on the lower ranges of the Alle- 

 ghenies and the Rocky mountains-, more especially the former. 



III. Early maturing qualities. 



(1) These are not so good as in some breeds, owing to 

 the manner of rearing which the conditions necessitate, but 



(2) In this respect they have been improved during recent 

 years. 



IV. Grazing qualities. 



(1) These are superlatively good, but 



(2) Cheviots do better on short, fine herbage than on 

 coarse grasses and heath. 



V. Feeding qualities. 



(1) Being a semi-mountain breed they would not submit 

 so well to close confinement as some other breeds, hence 



(2) They are more commonly finished on pastures and 

 by folding. 



VI. Quality of the meat. 



(1) The mutton is very good, but 



(2) It is not quite equal to the Southdown in delicacy, 

 nor to the mountain breeds in flavor. 



VII. Value in crossing and grading. 



(1) There is probably not very wide room for using this 

 breed for crossing in rich, arable sections, but 



(2) On exposed ranges and in bleak situations they could 

 doubtless oftentimes be used with much advantage. 



VIII. Breeding qualities. 



(1) Cheviots breed with much regularity, but 



(2) They are not particularly noted as producers of 

 couplets. 



IX. Wool production. 



(i) The average fleece should weigh eight to ten pounds. 



