6 FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 



much care cannot be exercised in this regard when se- 

 lecting suitable specimens for the breeding flock. 



If we err in the selection of our foundation flock we can- 

 not expect other than mistakes to crop out right along 

 the line of our career as shepherds. 



Mating. 



To mate a ram extra strong in points to ewes that are 

 deficient in these particular points, as recommended by some 

 writers, appears to me as queer reasoning. Two wrongs 

 can never make one right. A ram that is extra strong in 

 any one point must be weak in many others, or in other 

 words, is not a smooth, symmetrical animal. I have al- 

 ways considered that a ram should be as smooth and sym- 

 metrical as possible, and that by breeding from this type 

 for a few years his type and conformation will ultimately 

 and most assuredly be impressed on the whole flock, 

 whereas if one year we select a ram strong in one particular 

 point and another year select one strong in another par- 

 ticular point, we will be ever changing our type, to say 

 nothing of being obliged to keep a large flock of rams on 

 hand to meet the different requirements and defects of the 

 numerous individuals of the ewe flock. By sticking to a 

 smooth, symmetrical type of ram we are bound to accom- 

 plish something of a desirable nature, but by using rams 

 extra strong in any one particular point, it is hard to clearly 

 see what good can be gained. The shepherd's motto 

 should be: "Use only symmetrical rams." 



In-Breeding. 



Some one has said that "in-breeding is playing with 



