308 THE MOUNTAIN. 



to be one of "Heaven's best gifts to man." The mountain, 

 with its good grass-growing surfaces, might produce the best 

 varieties of cattle, but it is to be regretted that not much at- 

 tention has been given to raising the finer stocks. This 

 will apply to all the State, and it would certainly be of 

 great advantage to the ambitious Pennsylvania agriculturist 

 who imagines we are at the top of the ladder in all things, 

 to visit, for instance, an annual fair of our sister State of 

 Ohio. The common varieties alone are found on the moun- 

 tain, which, however, sometimes produce milk-cows of ex- 

 traordinary qualities. 



SHEEP. 



(Family Capridae.) 



Genus Ovis, (Linn.) Species Aries, common sheep. 

 Few or none of the highly improved varieties of sheep are 

 raised on the mountain. It is more favorable than any 

 other part of the State to the growth of this domestic ani- 

 mal, as has been stated in the chapter on soil and grasses. 

 This is undoubtedly true with regard to both flesh and fleece. 

 The common sheep is the only variety to which any attention 

 has been given. It multiplies rapidly, and produces, as 

 already remarked, a superior quality of mutton. A cross of 

 the Southdown and common sheep is said, by an experi- 

 enced shepherd,* to be the best animal to grow, both for 

 wool and mutton, as it retains the hardiness of one, (the 

 common,) and imparts the more delicately flavored fat and 

 flesh-fibre of the other, (Southdown,) together with its finer 



* This allusion is to the renowned man-feeder, Robert Harmer, of 

 Philadelphia. Mr. H. was formally an English shepherd, possessing 

 great practical knowledge of the sheep, and much wisdom in the de- 

 tails of breeding and management of that animal, Of the qualities 

 of mutton there is not extant a better judge than Mr. H., as indeed 

 of all other material used in the sublime art of cooking and feeding, 

 (his new vocation,) since he left behind his dog and crook, and ceased 

 "to watch his flocks by night, all seated on the ground." 



