[140] 



way are, owing to the constant infusion of fresh blood nec- 

 essary to keep up the proper standard of the flock, remark- 

 ably healthy and vigorous. 



The relative value of cross-bred sheep is shown conspic- 

 uously in the following table, the result of an experiment 

 with some of the most productive and highly esteemed of 

 the established breeds of improved sheep, though it does 

 not include Merinos, and the animals were thoroughbred 

 instead of grades. The Cotswold being the largest, was 

 the basis of comparison, the number kept being propor- 

 tioned to relative size : 



BREEDS C9tnpara- Weight Value Weight of 



OF tive No. of of Carcass at Total 



SHEEP. Kept. Fleece. Fleece. 14 mo. old. Products. 



Lbs. Cent*. Lbs. Dollars. 



Cotswold , 100 5 to 10 31 to 32 80 1,24166 



Leicester 105 4 to 8 31 to 33J 68 1,11318 



Hampshire Downs 115 3 to 7 31 to 36 68 1,02062 



South Downs 120 2 to 6 33 to 37 60 1,31770 



Cross-bred 115 4 to 8 33 to 36 76 1,46450 



This certainly makes a fair showing for the cross-breeds. 



Interesting Experiment in Austria of the Crossing of the 

 Cotswold upon the Merino, on Exhibition at the Vienna Ex- 

 position. "The Merino element is so prominent in Austria 

 that the growing necessity for better mutton is beginning to 

 be met rather by cross-breeds than mutton sheep of full 

 blood. The Cotswold- Merinos on exhibition commanded 

 much attention. They are without horns, have the white 

 faces of Cots wolds, and the pink noses of Merinos. They 

 are of good size, with a girth of nearly six feet over the 

 wool. The fleeces, at eleven months, showed fibre 4J inches 

 long; much longer than the Rambouillet, finer than that 

 of the Cotswold, with much of its lustre, and a fair degree 

 of the curl of the Merino, without its dirt and grease. 



"The union of Cotswold and Merino blood on the Kelt- 

 schan Sugar Company's estate in Moravia, has been more 

 satisfactory in its results than any contemporary experience 

 in cross-breeding. The change was effected by the use of 



