CROSS-BREEDING 83 



any other lambs at the show. It is doubtful whether 

 any other breed can produce by cross-breeding a 

 lamb that is better to feed or will attain in a given 

 time to greater weight. 



Cross-breeding on the ranges is not without its 

 difficulties. The problem is to maintain the original 

 ewe flock in its integrity. Cross-bred lambs that 

 may sell for the top of the market at the river mar- 

 kets may be unfit for retention on the range, be- 

 cause of the too large proportion of mutton blood. 

 The best plan is to breed a portion of the ewes of 

 highest quality from the standpoint of the range 

 man to rams especially suited to range use, and thus 

 to maintain the flock in its required qualities, letting 

 all of the cross-bred lambs go to market. 



CROSS-BREEDING IN EASTERN PASTURES. 



There is not the same reason for cross-breeding 

 in eastern lands. In truth too much of that is done 

 at all times and types are destroyed by useless com- 

 binings of bloods. If one starts out with a Shrop- 

 shire flock he should endeavor to make it a better 

 Shropshire flock by purchase of better Shropshire 

 rams than he has been in habit of using. If he needs 

 greater vigor and constitution he can get it probably 

 quite as easily by choosing an unrelated ram breed, 

 it may be, at a distance from him, having first rate 

 vigor and constitution, and of the same breed. The 

 same is true of the Cotswold, Oxford, Southdown, 

 and other breeds. There are not enough of the pure 

 breeds now, and they should not be mixed unless for 



