THE BREEDS OF SHEEP 79 



One or two folds or more are not considered objectionable 

 when found about the neck and breast, but the body should 

 be smooth. The fleece of 12 months' growth should be 

 about three inches long, and compact over the body, with 

 but little oil or dirt on the outside. Well-bred Rambouillet 

 flocks shear about 10 or 12 pounds of wool per head. These 

 sheep have grown in popularity in recent years, for they 

 mature early, are hardy, and seem well suited to most parts 

 of the United States where sheep husbandry thrives. On 

 the Western range, and on the Pacific slope are found some 

 of the very best and largest flocks in America. Many choice 

 flocks are also owned in 

 Ohio. Rambouillet sheep 

 have been bred to a con- 

 siderable extent in north- 

 ern Germany, and very 

 large numbers are now 

 found in the Argentine, in 

 South America. 



The Southdown is one 

 of the oldest breeds of 



, T , i Fig. 43. A Rambouillet ram lamb, bred 



Sheep. ItS native nome by Illinois University. Photograph from 

 ji o ii i i MI Prof. W. C. Coffey. 



is on the Southdown hills 



in Sussex county in southeast England. These hills are of 

 white chalk, and are covered with soil on which grass and 

 the small grains do very well. About 1775 a man named 

 John Ellman, who lived in Sussex, began to improve the 

 native sheep and kept at this work for over 50 years. 

 Through his efforts the Southdown developed into the 

 best mutton sheep known, having splendid vigor, fatten- 

 ing easily, maturing rapidly, and producing a carcass 

 with but little waste at slaughter. While the fleece was 

 not heavy, its quality was fine. Following Mr. Ellman 



