EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 397 



The rams sheared 8 to 12 pounds of wool and the ewes 4 to 8 pounds, 

 well washed. The rams sold for $20 to $40 each. 



Among the noted Southdown breeders of the State was Samuel Thome, 

 of Dutchess County. Mr. Ttiorne imported from the best English flocks, 

 raised a breeding flock and crossed on Merino and common ewes, to 

 produce early lambs for the New York market. His method was to 

 purchase the ordinary Ohio Merinos, sometimes from the droves as they 

 arrived and sometimes from the farmers who kept them over one 

 season. He preferred the latter, the difference in price alone causing 

 him to purchase the former. When selecting them the point of the 

 greatest importance was to get good milkers, that governing the choice 

 more than anything else, as the object was to get prime early lambs. 

 When there was a chance to select ewes with a cross of either of the 

 mutton breeds he always availed himself of it, though the difference 

 in price between them and the ordinary ones was generally too great 

 to make it as profitable. All things being equal, he preferred large 

 sheep to small ones. Ewes with a strong tincture of Merino blood take 

 the ram with more certainty early in the season than those deeply 

 crossed with the mutton breeds, therefore the former were preferred. 

 He turned his ewes with a Southdown ram the 1st of September, thus 

 bringing the lambs the first part of February. They were made to 

 grow and fatten as rapidly as possible, and were disposed of to the 

 butchers when they reached 40 pounds in weight. They were thus all 

 disposed of by the 1st of June, and the ewes had all the summer to 

 fatten in. The sheep were bought usually a few weeks before the ram 

 was to be turned in with them, and cost from $2.50 to $3 each. They 

 were kept upon hay alone until just before the lambing time, when a 

 daily feed of turnips was given. After the lambs came they were given 

 also a feed of meal or bran slop. A place was partitioned off for the 

 lambs, and they were regularly fed. The feed going directly to the 

 lamb made growth of fat with more profit than when given through the 

 mother's milk. The percentage of increase never averaged less than 

 100 per cent of sale sheep. The lambs went to market from two and a 

 half to three months old, and when in fine condition averaged $5 per 

 head, bringing more early in the season and less later. The ewes hav- 

 ing only to provide for themselves during the summer were by fall in 

 very good condition and required very little grain (which was first fed 

 to them as soon as the frost injured the grass) to fit them for a good 

 market. They averaged about $5 also. To this must be added the 

 wool, which generally n^ade a good return. It cost more and required 

 more attention to fit lambs for the early market, but the extra price 

 they commanded and the better chance which was given the ewes to 

 fatten by getting off their lambs so soon much more than compensated.* 



This system was folio wed by many farmers in eastern and southern New 

 York, and called for Southdown rams, which commanded good prices. 



* Statement of Samuel Thorne, 1862. 



