106 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



and to preserve their dark color. They are managed 

 with great skill by the shepherd, and under admirable 

 arrangements, but are not pampered in respect to 

 feed. 



Crossing. 



Crossing or intermixing different breeds, or differ- 

 ent varieties of the same breed, has been dabbled in 

 by everybody. ^ 



The French attempted the first, and proclaimed to 

 the world that the produce of the fourth cross be- 

 tween the Merino and coarse sheep (breeding towards 

 the Merino) was as good a wool- bearing sheep, and 

 as valuable for deeding purposes as the full blood 

 Merino.* 



Dr. Parry, of England, tried two or three crosses, 

 and with the bustling officiousness and absurd as- 

 surance of a new beginner, filled the agricultural pub- 

 lications of England with statements that he had al- 

 ready surpassed the pure Merino wool in quality, and 

 had actually injured the produce of his grade ewes 



* NT. Livingston says : " Having mentioned Dr. Parry's concur- 

 rence with the French agriculturists in the opinion that the breed is 

 completely changed hi the fourth generation, I should add," <fcc." (Es- 

 say, p. 133). * * * " The French agriculturists say that how- 

 ever course the fleece of the parent ewe may have been, the progeny 

 in the fourth generation will not show it." (Page 133.) * * * 

 " It is now so well established as not even to admit of the smallest 

 doubt, that a Merino in the fourth generation, from even the worst 

 wooled ewes, is in every respect equal to the stock of the sire. No 

 difference is now made in Europe in tHe choice of a ram, whether Jteis a, 

 full blood or fifteen-sixteenths.' 1 '' (Page 131.) 



If this last assertion were known to be true in respect to the breed- 

 ing of the French Merino, it would solve some now very puzzling prob- 

 lems hi regard to that variety. 



