[56] 



have an extra good ram, and they find it difficult and ex- 

 pensive to duplicate him. A skillful breeder will always, 

 in selecting a breeding ram, be governed in his choice by 

 the defects of the ewes he intends breeding him on ; for in- 

 stance, if his ewes are leggy and light bodied he will choose 

 a short legged, heavy bodied ram to use upon them. A 

 continual change of rams will get up a mixture of various 

 degrees of excellence, but there is no reliance on the perpe- 

 tuity of the stock, the lambs often taking after some inferior 

 progenitor that is near of kin. But by carefully noting all 

 the different points of excellence originating in a flock, and 

 preserving only those that possess in an eminent degree the 

 proper points to be gained, the breeder will soon have the 

 satisfaction of seeing a uniformity of stock not to be gained 

 by any other method. Therefore, do not go out for the 

 cross, but pick within all the time. To do this the best 

 lambs, both ewes and rams, must be preserved for breeding 

 purposes. And the selection must be made and adhered to, 

 with reference to the purpose in view. Should it be the in- 

 tention of the breeder to improve the wool, then select en- 

 tirely with reference to the wool, keeping in view, of course, 

 that strength, ^ize, rapidity of growth, tendency to fatten 

 (whether the flock is kept for wool or mutton), must be 

 always a pre- requisite. Then the length, quality, and fine- 

 ness of wool must be the chief aim, in the parents as well 

 as in the lambs. 



Should, however, the breeder wish to raise early lambs 

 for market, then those ewes that produce single lambs of 

 large size and quick growth should be selected. In carry- 

 ing out this idea it should also be kept in mind that the 

 ewes which will give large quantities of milk, and eat 

 heavily, will best fulfill this object. 



If the production of wool is the object, ewes that produce 

 twins, and are gentle, good nurses, are the most suitable. 

 In either case the record book is indispensable, as it will 

 be utterly impossible to make a proper choice of ewes with- 



