FINE WOOL SIIEEP HUSBANDRY. 85 



but some of them, with high keeping and light use, 

 have sheared more, and my yearling rams have 

 generally sheared from 15 to 22 pounds each. My 

 breeding and yearling ewes have never averaged as 

 low as 15 pounds each, unwashed, taking the entire 

 flock. Some of them have sheared over 20 pounds 

 each, but these were exceptions, being large and in 

 high condition. 



" The live weight of any animal of course depends 

 very much upon its condition. My yearling ewes 

 usually range from 90 to 130 pounds each, and the 

 grown ewes from 130 to 170 pounds each, and I have 

 had some that weighed over 200 pounds each ; but 

 these would be above the average size and in high 

 flesh. My yearling rams usually weigh from 120 to 

 180 pounds each, and my grown rams from 180 to 

 250 pounds each some of them have weighed over 

 300 pounds each, but these were unusually large and 

 in high flesh and in full fleece. I have had ram lambs 

 weigh 120 pounds at seven months old, but they were 

 more thrifty, fleshy, and larger than usual at that age. 



" As you request the height from the -top of the 

 shoulder to the gronnd, I have measured some of 

 those of medium, height, and find that yearling ewes 

 run from 26 to 28 inches, the grown ewes from 28 to 

 30 inches, the yearling rams from 28 to 32 inches, and 

 the grown rams from 30 to 34 inches. You also in- 

 quire the color of the great body of French sheep, 

 externally ; what color the wool is when opened on 

 the sheep, whether the oil in the wool is white or yel- 

 low, and if they exhibit much gum 2 



" When running out and exposed to the storms, thej 

 are, as a whole, light-colored when compared with the 

 Spanish Merinos, for the reason that they have much 

 less yolk or gum in their fleeces, besides their oil or 

 yolk is more of a soap-like substance, and separates 

 from their wool so readily that the rains will wash 

 their surface comparatively clean, leaving them light- 



