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pound-fleece wooled sheep up to the twelve and fourteen 

 pound fleeces, that are so greatly admired at the present- 

 day. There must be, therefore, an unwearied patience and 

 indomitable energy and watchfulness to bring about any 

 desired form or quality. Let the breeder first determine 

 the nature and character of the flocks to be produced. He 

 will then have to watch the desired form and fleece as seen 

 in his flock, and then by separating, and breeding only those 

 possessed of those qualities to rams selected, as mentioned, 

 whose best points are where the ewes are most defective. 

 The breeder will, in the course of a few years, have the 

 satisfaction of seeing a flock of an established character, and 

 able, by long breeding, to perpetuate and transmit those 

 peculiarities to their progeny. Above all other qualities, 

 be sure of the constitution and health of the sheep, as no 

 arnonnt of carcass or fleece will compensate for a sickly or 

 tender frame. These difficulties may dampen the ardor of 

 those men who expect in two or three years to enjoy the 

 glory of establishing a breed, but this continued attention 

 has been given to the Southdown and Cotswold in the 

 United States for at least a half century, and was, for a 

 greatly longer time, bestowed on the celebrated Spanish 

 Merino in Europe. It is positively the only method of 

 success. 



MIXED BREEDS. 



It often happens that for a certain reason the farmer 

 wishes to cross his flock with other breeds. This is, under 

 some circumstances, very advantageous, especially when he 

 wishes, from a large wool sheep, to produce early lambs or 

 mutton sheep. Almost every breeder of sheep has his own 

 fancies in regard to the change sought. The first considera- 

 tion is, which will be the most profitable, wool or mutton. 

 This generally can be determined by the proximity of the 

 markets. This once decided, the rest must be left to the 

 experience and tact of the breeder. Should the farmer 

 wish, without too much expense, to create a fine grade of 



