54 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



noble sheep, having some of the characteristics of 

 the Hampshires; is a good sire with which to cross 

 breed and is often used for that purpose. There is 

 need of a little more care in management with these 

 sheep to avoid parasitism than with some breeds, 

 but no man who has grown Oxfords and kept them 

 healthy but has found them profitable. The lambs are 

 large and growthy, quick to respond to feed and 

 ready for market at an early age, with heavy fleeces. 



The Oxford is pre-eminently the sheep for cross- 

 breeding. In southern Scotland many Oxford rams 

 are in use, bred to ewes of Cheviot or Border 

 Leicester type, and the cross-bred lambs sold. The 

 lambs from this cross are remarkably large, strong, 

 heavy and immense shearers. In America the Ox- 

 ford is used for cross-breeding on the ranges with 

 marked success, and also to some extent on eastern 

 farms on Merino ewes or grades. 



The novice in sheep breeding may here become a 

 little impatient and exclaim, "What! are all the 

 down breeds then good for cross-breeding? Is there 

 no distinction? Is not the author too impartial?" 



Let us briefly assort things. The Southdown is 

 best for early-maturity and early-fattening; the 

 Shropshire for everyday purpose; the Hampshire 

 where extraordinary goodness with weight is de- 

 sired, and where exceedingly good feed can be al- 

 lowed ; the Oxford where quite heavy good-shearing 

 lambs are desired. Each breed has its field and each 

 its distinctive value separate from any other. The 

 Suffolk makes more flesh from grass alone than the 



