EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 627 



neither very long nor very short, but between the two extremes. It shonld be broad 

 and straight behind, well let down, with a broad tail, with good hip folds and a 

 deep flank. His back shonld be broad, especially over the loins and short between 

 the couplings. His chest deep and broad, his shoulders not too flat. His body should 

 have plenty of folds, extending from the center of the belly (which should be covered 

 with a thick, long staple of wool) to the middle of the body and still higher as they 

 approach towards either end of the animal. 



The fleece should be of even quality, strong, not coarse in fiber, and well set over 

 the entire body, with a sufficient amount of oil to avoid anything like the appearance 

 of dryness or harshness. Upon the body and shoulders of the above-described ram 

 should be placed a short, deep neck, with heavy folds, and dewlap, covered with 

 plenty of good wool, carrying and supporting a finely formed, heavily covered, 

 masculine head. The horns should be of fine texture, of moderate size, good shape, 

 and as near the head as safety and good looks would warrant. The ears should be 

 thick, free from stain, of velvety touch and appearance, and well covered with wool. 

 The nose should be short, thick, free from stain, and free from anything like coarse 

 hair, especially that resembling the coarser breeds. In short, he should be so formed 

 that he combines strength, longevity, vigor, masculinity, vitality and beauty. All of 

 these traits shonld be prominent and easily discovered by the eye and the touch. 



Mr. D. P. Dewey, in discussing the proper weight and form of the 

 Merino ewe, observed that had the Merino but one mission to fill it would 

 be easy to picture the required sheep, but the double purpose of wool 

 and mutton in the same sheep made many differences of opinion. A 

 breeder who made wool and its products his principal study and aim 

 would differ widely from another who had given more thought to the 

 development of mutton, or from another who had both about equally 

 fortified in his ideal. When it was attempted to improve the size, form 

 or mutton qualities of the Merinos, it could not be done by a resort to 

 a ram of the mutton breeds, but dependence must be placed on the 

 qualities already within the flock and the more generous feeding of the 

 stock for several generations, as well as careful selections. After these 

 general ideas, here much condensed, Mr. Dewey said : 



For Michigan we want the ewes to average on the 1st day of January, in good 

 breeding condition, 120 pounds; this will give us a range of from 100 as the smallest 

 to 140 as the greatest weight, and from these we may produce rams for the market 

 of from 130 to 180 pounds, and it would be well to reduce this range of sizes 10 

 pounds from either extreme, making them range from 140 to 170 pounds, if possible, 

 within the flock, remembering that uniformity is a very desirable quality in a stud 

 flock. 



The form of a breeding ewe was more difficult to determine, but was 

 very important, as involving that groundwork of all improvement 

 constitution. 



First, the head should bo in proportion to the body; if the body be long the head 

 should also be of the same character, otherwise it will look disproportionate. The 

 legs may be an inch or two longer or shorter than these measurements, but should 

 be of sufficient length to take exercise freely. Head measurements: Draw a line 

 on top of the head from ear to ear in front; this shonld measure 5 inches ; from this 

 line to end of nose, 10 inches ; width of nose, 3 inches. Body measurements : Height 

 of ewe, 25 inches; whole length while standing in natural position, from nose to 

 tail, 40 inches ; from tail to brisket, 32 inches ; length of fore legs from ground to 



