416 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



552. The Cotswold. The Cotswold originated in southwest- 

 ern England. It was developed to meet the demand for a sheep 

 that would make the most economical gains from coarse forage. 

 Sheep of this breed were brought to the United States about 

 1832. The characteristic feature of the Cotswold sheep is the 

 head. The forehead is broad ; the face is white or spotted with 

 gray and has a tendency toward a Roman profile ; and the nos- 

 trils are black. Extending down over the forehead, often to the 

 nostrils, are heavy locks or curls. The back is broad and strong. 

 The fleece covers the body in large locks or curls. The staple 

 is long and of good quality. The ears and legs are marked 

 much like the face. Both sexes are hornless. The Cheviot 

 breed of sheep (Fig. 211) closely resembles the Cotswold. 



553. The Lincoln. The Lincoln sheep was developed in the 

 eastern part of England, in the county of Lincoln. This breed 

 was brought to America in the latter part of the eighteenth 

 century. It is the largest of the long-wool breeds. It is white, 

 though there is sometimes a mixture of gray in the face. The 

 head is large and strong. The body has good length and depth, 

 and is covered with firm flesh. The fleece is long, coarse, and 

 curly. The wool extends to the knees and hocks, and sometimes 

 below the hocks. The forehead is covered with a short lock 

 of wool. 



Since ancient times the sheep has been called " The Golden 

 Hoof," because it cleared and enriched the land upon which it 

 fed ; also, because it was believed that the sheep returned a 

 greater profit upon the money invested, and the feed and care 

 required, than did any other kind of farm animal. It is prob- 

 able that sheep make a pound of live-weight gain on less feed 

 than any other meat animal. It is generally estimated that 

 the fleece will pay for keeping the ewe, thus leaving the 

 lambs as profit. Another profit in keeping sheep relates to the 

 control of weeds. When given the opportunity, sheep will eat 

 almost all kinds of farm weeds. Farms upon which mixed 

 husbandry is practiced can well afford to keep at least a small 

 flock of good sheep. 



