THE SHEEP. 181 



nearly donbV, tlie value of Merino, that it will of any of the English 

 long or middle wools. 



"The important question now remains, What are the other relative 

 expenses of these breeds ? I speak from experience when I say that (he 

 Leicester* is in no respect a hardier sheep than the Merino — indeed, it 

 is my firm conviction that it is less hardy, under the most favorable 

 circumstances. It is more subject to colds, and I think its constitution 

 breaks up more readily under disease. The lambs are more liable to 

 perish from exposure to cold, when newly dropped. Under unfavorable 

 circumstances — herded in large flocks, pinched for feed, or subjected to 

 long journeys — its capacity to endure, and its abihty to rally from the 

 effects of such drawbacks, do not compare with those of the Merino. 

 The high-bred South-Down, thongli considerably less hardy than the 

 unimproved parent stock, is still fairly entitled to the appellation of a 

 hardy animal. In this respect, I consider it just about on a par with 

 the Merino. I do not think, however, it will bear as hard stocking as 

 the latter, without a rapid diminution in size and quality. If the pecu- 

 liar merits of the animal are to be taken into account in determining 

 the expenses — and I think they should be — the superior fecundity of 

 the South-Down is a point in its favor, as well for a wool-producing as 

 a mutton sheep. The South-Down ewe not only frequently yeans twin 

 lambs, as do both the Merino and Leicester, but she possesses, unlike 

 the latter, nursing properties to do justice hy them. But tliis advantage 

 is fully counterbalanced by the superior longevity of the Merino. All 

 the English mutton breeds begin to rapidly deteriorate in amount of 

 wool, capacity to fatten, and in general vigor, at about five years old, 

 and their early maturity is no ofiset to thi.% in a sheep kept for wool- 

 growing purposes. This early decay would require earlier and more 

 rapid slaughter or sale than would always be economically convenient, 

 or even possible, in a region situated in all respects like the South. It 

 is well, on properly stocked farms, to slaughter or turn off the Merino 

 wether at four or five years old, to make room for the breeding stock ; 

 but he will not particularly deteriorate, and he will richly pay the way 

 with his fieec(>, for several years longer. Breeding ewes are rarely 

 turned off before eight, and are frequently kept until ten years old, at 

 which period they exhibit no greater marks of age than do the Down 

 and Leicester at five or six. I have known instances of Merino ewes 

 breeding uniforudy until fifteen years old ! The improved Cotswold is 

 said to be hardier than the Leicester; but I have said less of this va- 

 riety, throughout this entire letter, as from their great sizef and the 

 consequent amount of food consumed by them, and the other necessary 

 incidents connected with the breeding of so large animals, the idea of 

 their being introduced as a wool-growing sheep anywhere, and particu- 

 larly on lands grassed like those of the South, is, in my judgment, utter- 

 ly preposterous. There is one advantage which all the coarse races of 



* I speak of fiill-bloodcd Leieesters. Some of its crosses are much hardier than 

 the pure bred sheep. 



f I saw two at the late New York State Fair, at Saratoga, which weighed over 

 three hundred pounds each. 



^ 44 



