THE SUKEP. tS3 



bulk. It felts far better, and there is therefore a greater cohesion 

 between the different fibers of the same thread, and between the differ- 

 ent threads. It is also more pliable and elastic, and consequently less 

 subject to " breaking" and abrasion. 



" Unless the views I have advanced are singularly erroneous, it M'ill be 

 seen that, for wool-growing purposes the Merino possesses a marked and 

 decided superiority over the best breeds and families of coarse-wooled 

 sheep. As a mutton sheep, it is inferior to some of those breeds, but not 

 so much so as is generally supposed. If required to consume i\ie fat and 

 lean tof/('thf'7\ many who have never tasted Merino mutton, and, who have 

 an unfavorable impression of it, would, I suspect, find it more palatable 

 than the luscious and over-fat New Leicester. The mutton of the cross 

 between the Merino and "Native" sheep would certainly be preferred 

 to the Leicester, by any body but an English laborer used to the latter. 

 It is short-grained, tender, and of good flavor. The same is true of the 

 crosses with English varieties. These will be hereafter, more particularly 

 alluded to. Grade Merino wethers (half-bloods) are favorites with the 

 Northern drover and butcher. They are of good size — extraordinarily 

 heavy for their apparent bulk^^ — make good mutton — tallow well — and 

 their pelts, from the greater weight of wool on them, command an extra 

 price. They would, in my opinion, furnish a mutton every way suitable 

 for plantation consumption, and one which would be well accepted in 

 the Southern markets. 



"In speaking of the Merino in this connection, I have in all cases, 

 unless it is distinctly specified to the contrary, had no reference to the 

 Saxons — though they are, as it is well known, pure-blooded descendents 

 of the former." 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP.— Their Summer Management.— The 



change in spring from dry to succulent food, produces in all sheep a 

 certain degree of scouring, and which, if precautions have not been taken 

 to guard against it, soils the wool on the hinder parts of sheep, and its 

 subsequent removal becomes diflticult. To prevent this, every sheep 

 betbre being turned to grass in the spring should have that portion of 

 the wool which is liable thus to become soiled carefully clipped away, 

 including that which immediately surrounds the roots of the tail, covers 

 the thighs, the bags of the ewes, etc. This operation saves the wool, which 

 would otherwise be lost, the animal much subsequent suffering, and the 

 owner much labor. Tagging sheep, therefore, should not be neglected 

 by any careful shepherd. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that the fields in which sheep are to run 

 should be carefully cleaned of every variety of hwrr^ by which so mueh 

 wool is annually lost in this countiy, being so matted together with them 

 as to be of little comparative value. 



Care in the haniilitlg of Sheep should always be exercised. They never 

 should be lifted by the wool, for, as the skin adheres so loosely, it is 

 often separated from the body by the act of lifting, and blood has often 

 been found settled beneath the parts thus improperly handle<l. The legs 

 or necks of sheep are the parts by which only they should be seized ; 



* On account of the shortness of their wool, compared with the coarse breede. 



