CHAPTER III 

 ENGLISH SHEEP 



Lincoln Leicester Border Leicester Romney Marsh Shropshire 



Southdown Hampshire Down Suffolk. 



A FEW particulars of the English breeds of long wools and others, 

 which are well known and bred in Australia, will be interesting 

 and useful to sheep farmers. 



First let us take the Lincoln. This is one of the oldest and best 

 known of all the English breeds. The Lincoln came into favour 

 in England about 1870, and at this time some very high prices were 

 paid for studs. We have several pure Lincoln studs in Australia 

 at the present time. The Lincoln is a large-framed, long-woolled 

 sheep, which is very prolific, and the lambs mature early. To get 

 the best results, they must be kept on good pastures, as they do not 

 thrive if kept on poor and dry country. They grow a heavy fleece 

 of long-stapled wool, the spinning quality of which is from 36*8 to 

 40*3. The average Lincoln will cut from 12 to 15 Ib. of wool, 

 which fluctuates a lot in price, but when prices are good it is'one of 

 the most profitable wools one can grow. If kept on clean country 

 this wool is very lustrous. The Lincoln is an excellent sire for 

 crossing with robust Merino or fine Cross-bred ewes. Mr. W. 

 Berry, the President of the Lincoln Breeders' Association, 

 Masterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand, says that in his opinion the 

 head of a Lincoln is the surest index of breeding, character, and 

 strength. The head should be full from the nose to the eyes, 

 and well set .up, with a good slope to the shoulders. The ears 

 should be soft, without being too low down. Black spots on the 



'5 



