SHEEP. 223 



the Merinos. ere is no doubt that an Oxford Down or a 



Cotswold will grow twice the mutton in two years, that will be 

 grown by a Merino, perhaps more. We speak of single animals. 

 But if the amount of food consumed by one Cotswold is as large 

 as that consumed by two Merinos, we must estimate accordingly. 

 Suppose a Cotswold to yield ninety pounds of mutton, and 

 twelve pounds of wool in two years ; the mutton at five cents 

 per pound, the price usually paid by the butcher, bringing four 

 dollars and a half; and the wool, at present prices, bringing 

 seven dollars and twenty cents, the sheep pays eleven dollars 

 and seventy cents. Suppose the two Merinos to yield sixty 

 pounds of mutton and twenty pounds of wool in two years ; the 

 mutton, at the above price, brings, three dollars ; and the wool, 

 at fifty cents per pound, brings, ten dollars, the two sheep pay 

 thirteen dollars ; giving a balance in favor of the Merinos of 

 one dollar and thirty cents. If we take the usual prices of 

 wool, this balance must of course be greater. The advantage 

 "which the Merino possesses, is that he pays a much larger price 

 for the food which he consumes, as he goes on to maturity. He 

 is a more profitable boarder, an important consideration in our 

 climate. 



There is an argument in favor of coarse-woolled heavy sheep, 

 based upon their production of lambs, which at first glance 

 seems difficult to answer. It seems true that a lamb which 

 at six months old will bring five dollars is more profitable tlian 

 one which at the same age will bring three dollars. But is it 

 not also true that on the same feed two fine-woolled ewes will be 

 more likely to produce two lambs worth three dollars per head, 

 than one coarse-woolled ewe will be to produce one lamb worth 

 five dollars V If it is so, we get one dollar more for our feed 

 when converted into fine-woolled lamb than we do when it is 

 converted into coarse-woolled lamb. AVe must remember, more- 

 over, that it requires an excellent pasture to raise a lamb worth 

 five dollars, while almost any fair New England pasture will 

 raise one worth three dollars. 



In making these calculations, we have not considered the 

 difference which exists in the quality of pasture lands in 

 different localities. But tiiis should by no means be lost sight 

 of, as it should govern us, to a very considerable degree, in the 

 selection of our animals. The early-maturing, quick-fattening, 



