HINTS ON SELECTION, CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 287 



many small ones; while, on the other hand, a short-coupled, close made, 

 smooth and even, but smaller ram will breed with much greater uni- 

 formity. The head of the stock ram should always be small in propor- 

 tion to the body; the legs firm but not large ; the back and loin well pad- 

 ded with mutton and covered densely with wool of even length, and the 

 general appearance and style should be brisk and sprightly a lazy look- 

 ing, "droopy" ram, as a rule, is not a strong breeder. Light but strong 

 bones are much to be desired in a sheep, and large bones are always ob- 

 jectionable. If the head is too large unless bred to ewes unusually 

 broad and deep in the pelvic region much trouble will result at lamb- 

 ing time, and considerable loss may be incurred. 



The ewe should be selected with reference to type of the breed to 

 which she belongs, and, especially if bred to produce a certain result, 

 should exhibit the peculiar characteristics which the breeder aims to se- 

 cure. The primary purpose of the ewe being that of a mother, she should 

 be chosen with especial reference to her capacity to carry and nourish the 

 foetus, and produce milk for the lamb. Ewes are like cows some are 

 good milkers, but many are poor in this respect, and the external signs 

 of milking excellence are much the same in both. A feminine appear- 

 ance of the head, wide, open pelvis, and body deep at the flank, and 

 marks which should always guide in selection of the ewe. 



We are not of opinion that the ordinary sheep farmer will have very 

 great success with thoroughbred flocks of any breed; but we cannot urge 

 too strongly the use of thoroughbred rams in grading up the hardy na- 

 tive or mixed-bred sheep common to different sections of the country. 

 Mixed-bred flocks receive very kindly the blood of any of the improved 

 breeds, and it is only a question of result desired as to what breed of ram 

 should be selected. As a rule, wherever dry, scant ranges are found 

 especially in warm climates wool will be more profitable than mutton, 

 and no sheep will succeed better than the Merino. Where land is more 

 fertile, and food in consequence more abundant, a combination of mut- 

 ton and wool may be found more profitable ; for such conditions as are 

 found in the upper portion of the Mississippi Valley, the "middle-wools" 

 have held the field against all others; and in the same section it has been 

 found profitable, when flocks of short-wool basis were already present, 

 to use compact rams of the long-wool breeds combining in this way 

 the hardy characters of the former with the size and mutton capacity of 

 the latter, and producing a middle-wool flock with least expenditure of 

 time and money. 



To improve a flock requires, primarily, an accurate knowledge of the 

 type desired. The improver must carry in his mind's eye, a picture of 

 the sheep he wishes to produce, and every animal of either sex which 

 he employs to accomplish his purpose must be selected by comparison 

 with this ideal type. He must remember that it takes time to accom- 



