Sec. 7.] 



SHEEP UUSBANDKY. 



81 



Why should we import hogs ? All the iiui^roved Eiiglisli breeds are 

 made up. And why we can not just as well make a breed here that bhall 

 suit our circumstances, and need no acclimating, we can not imagine. The 

 fecundity of pigs gives the breeder a greater facility in improving his hogs 

 than he possesses with any other large domestic animal. Let him have an 

 object in view and steadily pursue it for a few years, and success and great 

 profit are certain. 



SECTIOX VII.-SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



reeds of English Sheep. — At a recent meeting of 



the Central Farmers' Club at London, Mr. Charles 



Howard delivered an address on tlie Lubjeet of 



? ( i^ " '^"^'" Merits of Pure-J3red and Cross-Bred Sheep." 



\]Y '-r-s In tliis address he gave the origin and merits of 



several of the " establislied" breeds. We condense as 



follows : 



L SouTHDOWNS. — "The South, or Sussex Downs, are de- 

 scended from small, gray, and dark-faced slieep which 

 were found on the liilly and mountainous districts tlirough- 

 out England. John Ellman was the original improver. 

 He was followed and surpassed by Jonas Webb, who has 

 made the Southdown perfect. Tlie peculiarity of tiiis sheep is its supe- 

 rior quality of mutton and wool. Average weight, from thirteen to fifteen 

 months, is 12Glbs. ; weight of fleece, Gibs. The ewes are capital l)i'eedeis, 

 aiul generally produce one third twin's. They are best adapted to elevated 

 situations and bare pasturage. Among the nobility and fancy farmers they 

 are regarded as the elite of sheep. 



IL llAMrsHotE Downs. — "This valuable sheep has been established fronj 

 various crosses, commencing with the century. They present as great a 

 uniformity in wool, color, and general appearance as their smaller but hand 

 Eomer cousins, the Southdowns. Tliey have risen into favor rapidly. Thej' 

 arc very hardy, and of good constitutions, and good wool-bearera, the aver- 

 age fleece being G to 7 lbs., of early maturity, and have plenty of lean as 

 well as fat meat, and will graze to almost any weight you may choose to 

 make them. The ewes are good breeders and sucklers. 



in. Lkicestkks. — " Tlicse originated with Bakewell. To this breed all 

 other loug-wooled sheep are indebted for their improved shape and greater 

 disjiosition to fatten. Tlieir chief characteristics arc, great aptitude to fatten 

 with a comj)aratively small consumption of food, and early maturity; fleece, 

 7 lbs. ; carcass, at fourteen or fifteen months, 1-tO lbs. Tiiev are not very 

 good breeders, and it is a rare thing to have nuM-e lambs than ewes. 



IV. Thk CotswoM). — "This is one of the oldest of the established breeds. 



