CHAPTER II. 



THE FOUNDATION OF THE FLOCK. 



Having decided on the variety oi sheep he thinks is most likely 

 to thrive in his country, the farmer must be careful to secure for 

 his breeding flock animals of sound, robust constitution. This is 

 far more important than a reputation for heavy fleeces, a high 

 value of wool per pound, or a large carcase. A robust constitution 

 is the foundation on which all future excellence maybe most surely 

 raised, and it is the only safe and sure foundation. Sheep that are 

 raised in similar country should be preferred, and if possible the 

 originals should be selected from a flock the history of which the 

 farmer may learn somewhat. 



In a new country it is often difficult to obtain the description 

 of sheep that is desired, and in that case one must be satisfied with 

 the best ewes that are within reach, and make future advances by 

 means of the rams. 



It is better to commence with young sheep, as nearly as pos- 

 sible of the one type, and drawn from the one flock. I am, of 

 course, supposing that it is the intention of the farmer to found a 

 permanent flock. Many flock masters purchase ewes cast for age 

 from a rlrst-class flock, and often pay a good price for them. Such 

 a plan has much to recommend it, for the old ewes are kept in the 

 breeder's flock because they are of great excellence, and often the 

 young sheep are sold because they are not up to the standard. But 

 the old ewes can scarcely be relied on to yield more than one or 

 two lambs, and after tnat they are useless for any purpose but 

 boiling down. At times one can obtain from good flocks a small 

 draught of young sheep that are not culls. I know of a stud flock 

 of the highest standing, the originals of which were very old ewes, 

 but the flock they came from was one of the best, and the man who 

 bought them was a thorough expert. 



UNIFORMITY. 



The e\ves should not only be all of the one age, but they should 

 be of the one type of form and fleece. Uniformity is one of the 

 greatest recommendations a permanent flock can possess. The 

 butcher values it highly, and the wool buyers soon find it out, and 

 will give a higher price for such a clip than for one that promises 

 more but is irregular in the character of wool. 



The character of uniformity is much more easily given to the 

 small flock of the farmer than to the larger one of the squatter, and 

 yet the large flocks are more noted for this quality than the small 



