DOMESTIC ANIMAL8. ItQ 



to our severe winters better than the Cotswolds. The ewes are good breeders 

 and good nurses. They frequently have two strong lambs, and occasionally 

 three at a birth. I have never had a pure-bred Cotswold ewe in the flock that 

 would not breed. We let the ewes have their first lambs when two years old, 

 and they frequently continue to be good breeders till 10 years old. The Cots- 

 wolds are the hardiest of all the English breeds of sheep. Of all well-estab- 

 lished breeds, the Cotswolds are the largest. The celebrated experiments of 

 Lawes & Gilbert proved beyond all question that the Cotswolds produced more 

 nmtton and more wool than any other breed. In other words, they gained 

 more rapidly, both in fleece and carcass, than any other breed. And not only 

 this, but they gained more in proportion to the food consumed than any other 

 breed." Mr. Harris' experience in crossing Cotswold rams on ordinary Merino 

 ewes has heretofore been frequently referred to in these columns, especially in 

 connection with notices of the cross-breeds exhibited by him at several shows 

 of the State Agricultural Society. On this subject he remarks: " I am deci- 

 dedly of the opinion that the ' coming sheep ' of this country will be what I 

 will take the liberty to call 'American Cotswolds.' I have hitherto called these 

 sheep * Cotswold Merinos.' This designates their origin. But the time has 

 now arrived when the name loses its significance. For instance, I have Cots- 

 wold Merino lambs with three or four crosses of pure Cotswold blood in them. 

 In other words, these lambs have 93i|' per cent, of pure Cotswold blood in them 

 and only GJ^ per cent, of the native or Merino sheep. The next cross will have 

 only 33^ per cent, of the native or Merino blood, and the next only a little over 

 13^ per cent, A few years hence American Cotswold sheep will be shipped by 

 thousands and tens of thousands every week to the English markets. There is 

 no reason why they are not now shipped in large numbers, except— the fact 

 that they cannot be found. We do not raise enough of them or feed them 

 well enough. Our beef cattle are better than our mutton sheep. The intelli- 

 gence and skill of the American sheep-breeder has been largely directed to the 

 perfection of the Merino. Wool and bulk have been the objects aimed at, and 

 great success has attended their efforts. There are no better fine-wooled sheep 

 in the world to-day than can be found in the United States. There are many 

 sections where Merinos are the most profitable breeds of sheep to keep. But 

 railroads and steamboats lead to rapid and wonderful changes. There was a 

 time when I thought Cotswold or mutton sheep could not be raised with profit 

 in the far West. I thought it was too far from market; but, if cattle can be 

 raised and shipped with profit to England, long-wooled mutton sheep can bo 

 raised and shipped with still greater profit." 



Remarks. — Notwithstanding the superiority of the Cotswolds in some par- 

 ticulars, the Merino will still form the majority of our flocks, I have not a 

 doubt, for many years to come, except it may be in favorable points for ship- 

 ping to England or our largest cities, as our American people do not, as yet, eat 

 half as much mutton as would be best for their health. Pork, I am sorry to 

 say, except in the cities, is more frequently found upon our tables than aoy 

 other meat. 



