[277] 



Every one of these crosses was perceptible in the flock (blended, but 

 still manifest), in the character and habits, as well as in the carcass and 

 in the fleece; but in some a particular cross predominated, which was 

 naturally to be expected, on account of the recentness of the improve- 

 ment. In order to obliterate these discrepancies, and to produce more 

 complete uniformity in the flock, it was bred, in 1854, to five select rams 

 of my own breeding. The progeny showed a reasonable accomplishment 

 of the object; and though there was some variation in their carcasses and 

 fleeces, still they were in all respects beautiful and valuable animals of 

 their kind. 



In the fall of 1855, in order to carry out the same design, I bred chiefly 

 to a mixed-blood ram, whose pedigree showed Cotswold, Oxfordshire, Tees- 

 water, and Southdown blood. He was a highly formed and finely finished 

 sheep, of large size, and a thick fleece of medium length and fineness of 

 fibre, and his lambs possessed great beauty and value. 



In 1856 I bred chiefly to a large and fine Cotswold, and in 1857 to him 

 and to a ram of mixed blood, the ewes being so selected and bred as to 

 produce a more complete uniformity in the progeny- -those having a pre- 

 dominance of Southdown and Merino being bred to the Cotswold, and 

 those having a predominance of Cotswold qualities being bred to the 

 mixed-blood ram. In 1858 two large and fine rams of my own breeding 

 were used in the same manner, and for the same objects chiefly, viz., to 

 give uniformity and stability to the flock. A few ewes were also bred, in 

 1858, to a very fine mixed-blood ram, which was a perfect model of sym- 

 metry, and which had taken a premium at the State fair in Louisville in 

 that year. In October, 1857, the flock of about one hundred ewes was 

 again selected, and bred with a view to the same object, about one-half 

 being bred to the above premium animal, and the remainder to a fine 

 " Improved Kentucky" sheep, which had a fleece of remarkable length, 

 fineness of fibre, and was of good size and fine form. 



By this time these sheep were as essentially alike and uniform, main- 

 tained their identity and imparted their qualities as surely, as sheep of 

 any other breed. They had been exhibited with success at many State 

 and county fairs, and had been sold and sent to almost every State in the 

 West and South, even to California; and all which I could raise from a 

 flock of about one hundred ewes found ready sale at the uniform price of 

 thirty dollars for those one year old and under. A lot of these sheep was 

 exhibited at the fair of the Kentucky State Agricultural Society in Paris 

 in 1856, and again at the fair of the United States Agricultural Society in 

 Louisville in 1857, and at each a special premium was awarded them. 



Since 1860, well selected rams of my own breeding, and those of Leices- 

 ter and of Cotswold blood, have been used in such manner as to impart 

 some valuable qualities either to the fleece or the carcass, or to the con- 

 stitution of the progeny, pure Cots wolds, superior in form and size and 

 fleece, being used. 



