CROSS-BREEDING 85 



horns. It may be supposed that the first colonists 

 sailing as they often did from Bristol and Plymouth, 

 in the south of England, brought with them the na- 

 tive sheep of those regions among which would be 

 the Dorsets and various types of long-wools. These 

 mountain ewes though handsome to look at are bet- 

 ter than they at first appear. They are active, good 

 feeders, very prolific, and good mothers. Their 

 lambs are not of first rate quality unmixed, but 

 when sired by rams of good mutton type they grow 

 finely and sell well. The favorite sire for this busi- 

 ness has been the Southdown, in truth no breed can 

 get a better lamb or one ripening earlier than this 

 old standby. Shropshires are often used, also, and 

 get a heavier lamb. Hampshires are in great favor 

 where tried and Dorsets have their strenuous advo- 

 cates, especially in Virginia, where they have been 

 used most. 



The advantage of Dorset blood is twofold: first 

 the lambs attain very good weights, usually out- 

 weighing the progeny of down rams, and the ewe 

 lambs if retained on the farm make admirable 

 mothers for successive generations. Lambs in these 

 regions are usually born in March and fattened 

 mainly on grass, going to market in June and July. 

 The source of supply of these ewes is from the small 

 farmers in the mountains. Could these men be in- 

 duced to improve their flocks by use of better rams 

 the benefit would be immediate and marked. There 

 is no doubt that an infusion of fresh blood from 

 any of the down or Dorset breeds would greatly 



