SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT 99 



the spark of life has burned dimly for a time. With 

 the renewal of that vital spark and the greater in- 

 tensity of life that results these old and almost for- 

 gotten excellencies will be in a manner revived, so 

 that the progeny may be not merely better than the 

 dams but better than the sire as well. The writer 

 has seen very striking instances of this, when the 

 ewe flock was of good inheritance and only suffer- 

 ing from lack of fresh blood. 



VITALITY THE THING TO STBIVE FOR. 



The sheep under domestication is not so strong 

 as we would like to see it. In truth there is no ani- 

 mal under our care with less resistance than the 

 sheep. Men do not enough consider this. They 

 study points, like the quality of the fleece, or the 

 form of the head, the covering of the legs or nose, 

 the shape of the ear, and doubtless these are all of 

 use, but the first and foremost essential in a profit- 

 able flock is vigor, vitality, life. That, if it is abun^ 

 dant, will insure strong lambs, will insure ewes with 

 right mother instinct and milk to serve that will 

 insure lambs that eat and thrive and grow and fat- 

 ten and bring good prices at the market, no matter 

 whether the ear is true to type or the wool grows 

 on the nose or not. To the market breeder the 

 writer counsels seek vigor, build constitution, en- 

 courage health and thrift and the profits will be sure. 



SELECTING THE EWES. 



Pure-bred ewes may be selected much as the ram 

 is, avoiding overgrown individuals, and seeking for 



