FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 15 



of the animal, as this is where defects in the fleece will be 

 most conspicuous, if existing at all. The finest and most 

 valuable portion of the fleece is found at a point near the 

 center of the shoulder-blade, and extending in a line along 

 the animal's side to a point just above the flank. The student 

 would do well to carefully examine and study the difference 

 in the nature and quality of the various parts or sections of 

 the fleece of the stock he intends to exhibit before wasting- 

 care and feed on animals that on account of the inferiority 

 in these respects cannot possibly win a premium. A close, 

 dense fleece is generally short in staple. This is preferable,, 

 however, to the long, coarse, open fleece; that is, where the 

 Down breeds of sheep are considered. The fleece is the cri- 

 terion of the health of a sheep, and where the show animal's 

 fleece is dry and harsh something surely is wrong, as a well- 

 fed sheep when in health carries a fleece full of life and 

 lustre. The fleece of the Dorset is wonderfully free from 

 defects, as far as discoloration of same is considered. The 

 writer has never as yet seen a Dorset clothed in a black 

 or discolored fleece. This is no doubt accounted for from, 

 the fact of their having been bred in purity for so long a time. 

 It is important that the fleece of the Longwools be of great 

 length of staple, strong in fibre, and finely crimped almost to 

 curliness. 



The Skin. 



The skin of show, and, for that matter, of all sheep, should 

 be of a beautiful, rich, brilliant pink, free from foreign color 

 or shade. It is claimed (and no doubt with good reason) 

 by the greatest living authorities, that a pale skin points to 



