354 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



makes it necessary to provide them with good shelter ; they are 

 not well adapted to large open tracts of land or extreme brush 

 or hill comitry. Pure bred rams may be used in grade flocks 

 where it is desired to increase size. 



Lesser knoivn breeds. — Corriedales have assumed some im- 

 portance in the West of late years. They were originated by 

 crossing Lincoln rams on C type Merino ewes, and are not yet 

 well fixed in type. 



The Karakul while classed in general as a long-wool breed 

 is especially noted for the production of Persian lamb skins. 

 There is a mistaken idea that these lamb skins are produced by 

 Persian sheep, but such is not the case. The texture and quality 

 of fur produced compares favorably with the finest fur on the 

 market to-day. Other types of these fur-producing sheep are the 

 Arabi, the Shiraz and the Duzbi. 



The Shetland is a native of the Shetland Islands. They are 

 very small, their fleece is used in the manufacture of hosiery and 

 the famous Shetland shawls. 



Other breeds of a wild or semi-wild type are the Rocky Moun- 

 tain or Big Horn ; the Barbados and the Barbary or Aoudad. 



Market classification of sheep. — On the market sheep are 

 classified according to the use to which they are to be placed. 

 Their general appearance, condition and age largely determine 

 into what sub-class and grade they will be placed. The market 

 classes are (1) Mutton, or sheep which are intended for the 

 block. Both native and western sheep are found in this class. 

 (2) Feeders; these are largely westerns. (3) Breeding sheep; 

 both natives and westerns are in this class. Natives show a pre- 

 dominance of medium-wool blood, while westerns show a 

 predominance of fine-wool blood. 



There are various sub-classes and grades for each class. Sub- 

 classes of mutton sheep are lambs, yearlings, ewes, wethers, 

 bucks and stags. Feeders are subdivided into lambs, wethers, 

 yearlings and ewes. Breeders are composed of ewes and rams. 

 AgQ and condition determine almost entirely the grade into 

 which any of the subclasses will fall. In almost all classes the 

 grades range from prime to common, with a corresponding 

 variation in price; present quotations (September, 1919), show 

 an average for the five leading markets of $4.50 to $17.75. 



Founding the flock. — It cannot be too strongly emphasized 

 that there is no one best breed for all conditions and circum- 

 stances. Every breed has certain adaptations .and character- 

 istics which make it suitable for given conditions. The beginner 



