88 THE SHEPHEBD'S MANUAL. 



lished types will improve what is known as our common native 

 sheep, sufficiently to justify the payment of a fair price for a choice 

 ram. Grades from these flocks of common sheep, bred towards 

 the long wools, the Downs or the Merinos, will be found profita- 

 ble stock to the average farmer. Care should be had to breed all 

 the time in the same direction that is, always using the best rams 

 of their kind within reach, having due regard to prudence in 

 making the purchases. The first cross will usually show a greater 

 change from the standard of the coarse-wooled mother than subse- 

 quent ones, though an occasional cropping out of her less desira- 

 ble characteristics may be expected, but should not discourage the 

 effort at improvement as persistent crossing by pure-bred rams 

 will bring its reward in a sightly flock of grades, that can be de- 

 pended upon to reproduce their characteristics with reasonable 

 certainty." 



" In and in " breeding, or breeding between near relatives, is a 

 subject which has given rise to much discussion, and to much 

 diversity of opinion. The truth seems to be that close breeding 

 up to a certain point is necessary to secure a fixed type, and when 

 judiciously done, it may be the means of securing most valuable 

 results. The English sheep breeders who have become most noted 

 for their successes, have bred very closely, a most conspicuous 

 example being Mr. Bakewell with his improved Leicesters. Proba- 

 bly no race of animals were so closely interbred as this. But it is 

 questioned by some breeders if the limit of safety in this respect 

 has not been overstepped, for no race so strongly exhibits in their 

 defects the evil results which follow from too close breeding for 

 any considerable length of time. The small light bone, the bald- 

 head, the prominent glassy eyes, the thin, delicate skin, the ten- 

 dency to tuberculous diseases, and other scrofulous affections, all of 

 which are characteristic of some classes of the Leicesters, are the 

 very evils which are known to follow from too close sexual affini- 

 ties. Safety certainly lies in the avoidance of this sort of breeding 

 to any great extent, and as a general rule for ordinary breeders, it 

 may perhaps be laid down, that to breed a ram to his own lambs 

 may be permitted, but to breed to the second generation of off- 

 spring should be avoided. To change the ram the second year 

 would be to act on the side of safety, and except in rare instances, 

 and for the attainment of clearly apprehended results, this should 

 be the limit of close breeding. To breed a ram to his own ewe 

 lambs is regarded as safer, and not so close breeding as breeding 

 full brother and sister together, and yet to attain certain desired 

 ends, this is and has been done, and will often be done by breeders. 



