352 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



classes than any of the other breeds, grades or cross-hreds. 

 Southdowns are very prepotent, and are a Avell fixed type. Pure 

 bred rams of this breed if used on a grade flock will soon estab- 

 lish a very uniform and well fixed type. 



The Dorset Horn is another English breed. They were origi- 

 nated by sekction and crossing Old Dorsets and Somersets. 

 Both rams and ewes have heavy spiral horns, those of the ram 

 being much heavier and more twisted than the ewe; their face 

 and legs are free from wool and covered with white hair ; they 

 are medium in size. This breed is especially noted for its ability 

 to produce the so-called "hot-house" lambs, which are dropped 



in the early fall, and 



jDut on the Christmas 

 market, in a highly fin- 

 ished condition. Ewes 

 of this breed will take 

 the ram any season of 

 the year, and are more 

 sure in this respect 

 than either fine-w^ool or 

 Tunis ewes. These 

 three breeds are the 

 only ones which will 

 take the ram at any 

 time other than the 

 regular fall breeding 

 season, ^ure bred Dor- 

 set rams can be used to 

 marked advantage in 

 building up a grade 

 flock where it is desired 

 to raise lambs for this 

 special kind of trade. 



Fig. 179. — Pure bred yearling Tunis ew^^. 



The Cheviot was originated on the border of England and 

 Scotland by selection and crossing the Old Cheviot, Lincolnshire 

 and Leicester. The breed is hornless, the head, face and legs 

 are free from wool, and covered with short, white hair. Cheviots 

 do not flock together well, and for this reason are not well 

 adapted to grazing on large open tracts of land ; however, they 

 are especially good rustlers, are exceedingly hard}^, and \^^ll do 

 well on small farms. Their fleece is of excellent quality. Pure 

 bred rams of this breed can be used to good advantage in build- 

 ing up and improving grade flocks. 



