IMPROVED LINCOLN SHEEP. 21 



months old, and the carcase then weighs about 80 to 100 Ibs. 

 There is an idea prevalent with some that the day of the 

 Leicester is gone by. Pure-bred Leicesters are liable to lay 

 on fat very thickly, and the demand for fat mutton has ceased, 

 so that in this respect these sheep are somewhat at a disad- 

 vantage when compared with Downs. The great value of 

 the breed lies in its excellent effects when used for crossing 

 purposes, and it is premature to state that the Leicester is 

 " played out." Good stock, although general, is by no means 

 universal, and, besides, the Leicester cross produces won- 

 derful carcases. What, for example, can excel the South- 

 down or Hampshire Down and Leicester cross ? Again, 

 what can be better for certain situations than the cross 

 between Leicesters and Cheviots, or Leicesters and Black- 

 faces. Going further afield, the Leicester-Merino is an 

 improvement upon the Merino, as it produces a butcher's 

 sheep, as well as a mere wool-carrier. 



There is scarcely a breed which has not felt the influence 

 of the Leicester. No race has been so largely employed as a 

 means of improvement, and Southdowns, Cotswolds, Lin- 

 coins, Shropshires, Hampshire Downs, and probably every 

 sort of sheep, directly or indirectly has benefited by it. 



IMPROVED LINCOLN SHEEP. 



In general form the Lincoln resembles the Leicester. An 

 ordinary observer at a show might find it necessary to con- 

 sult his catalogue to see where the Leicesters ended and the 

 Lincolns commenced, but the differences are considerable, 

 notwithstanding. Thus, in size, the Lincoln is greatly 

 superior, and he may be credited with being the heaviest 

 sheep of the British Isles, having been known to attain a 

 weight of 90 Ibs. per quarter. The flesh is firmer than 

 that of the Leicester when tested by laying the hand upon 

 the back. The wool is extraordinarily long, samples in my 

 possession having been proved by measurement to be 21 



