SHEEP. 119 



Cr. 



By 50 lambs, at 10 cents, live weight, . 

 Mauiire, valued at 50 cents per head, . 

 Wool sold at 45 cents per pound (washed), 



Deducting cost, etc., . . . . 



i 

 Leaving balance of $136 00 



which is a profit of forty-five per cent. From these considera- 

 tions, it is obvious that the sheep, for its care and cost, returns 

 proportionally as large a pecuniary profit as any of our form 

 animals. 



In selecting sheep for raising and fattening for mutton, 

 there is probably no better than some one of the families 

 known as the "Downs;" they are hardy animals and well 

 adapted to the general character of our lands, the climate and 

 our methods of farm husbandry. Professor Wilson says of 

 them : "Though fine in form and symmetrical in appearance, 

 they are very hardy, keeping up their condition on moderate 

 pastures, and readily adapting themselves to different districts 

 and systems of farming ; being very docile, they thrive well 

 even when folded on the artificial pastures of an arable farm. 

 They fatten easily, the meat being of fine quality and always 

 commanding the highest price in the market. The ewes are 

 very prolific and are excellent mothers, commonly rearing 

 from 120 to 130 lambs to the 100 ewes. The fleece produces 

 the most valuable of our native wools, and washed, averages 

 from five to six pounds in weight." 



Of the other families of the same breed of sheep, such as 

 the Shropshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire Downs, Professor 

 Wilson speaks in equal terms of commendation, and, un- 

 doubtedly, with skilful and intelligent crossing in breeding, 

 even these could be improved in every desirable quality, so 

 that our farmers, by their dexterous methods, shall become as 

 celebrated in their improvements and as distinguished as the 

 famous English breeders, to whom we are indebted for these 

 exceeding valuable families of sheep. So far, then, as relates 



