EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 675 



and crossing upon them the Spanish Merino buck, saving the ewe lambs of such cross 

 and breeding them to the Cotswold buck, we can produce a breed of sheep healthier 

 and better suited to our climate, soil, and pasturage than any of the improved 

 breeds, yielding as much mutton in carcass and as great a quantity of wool. A 

 cross of Merino and Cotswold would result similarly, but would not utilize the great 

 number of natives. A cross direct of the Cotswold and natives is a vast improve- 

 ment, getting rapidly to the large carcass and great yield of wool; but without the 

 Merino cross the density of fleece, fineness and softness of fiber imparted by it can 

 not be attained. It is of the utmost importance that those breeding either of full- 

 bloods or crosses should select the best of rams. A good Merino ram bred to the 

 native ewe adds 100 per cent to the yield of wool, and greatly to the carcass in sym- 

 metry of form and fattening qualities. Nor is this all; the half-bloods are worth 

 double their dams, and can be used as a basis of still higher and greater improve- 

 ment by the use of the large carcassed, long-wooled rams, which cross will greatly 

 increase the weight of carcass and double the yield of wool. When the number of 

 lambs produced by one ram is taken into consideration, and when it is seen over 

 what an immense extent, even in his own direct offspring, his good or bad qualities 

 are to be perpetuated, how obvious, then, that none but the best bucks should be 

 selected. How important, then, that every scrub ram in the State should be exter- 

 minated, and his place supplied with one of the improved breeds. In a few years 

 the natives would become extinct, and in their stead we should have a breed of 

 sheep yielding from twice to four times the quantity of wool, and of a superior qual- 

 ity, aside from the great increase of mutton in carcass. As a general thing in Ten- 

 nessee it is not so much the quality as the quantity of carcass desired ; very little 

 difference, except in special localities, is made in the quality of mutton, just so that 

 it i.s in good condition, and the larger the carcass the greater the profit. 



What Mr. Crutchfield did in east Tennessee with the Cotswold others 

 have done in middle Tennessee with the Southdowns, and with much 

 success. At Goodie ttsville, Davidson County, a few miles north of 

 Xashville, at the base of a mountain plateau, where limestone soil gives 

 rich pasturage and where there are unfailing streams of the best water, 

 there was organized some years since a mutton lamb club to encourage 

 and stimulate the protection and improvement *of sheep. The object 

 was twofold, to disseminate improved stock and to furnish the market 

 with choice lambs. The club was limited to forty members. There are 

 two annual sale days one in May, the other in June. Expectant buyers 

 are notified by the secretary that on a designated day in May the mem- 

 bers will offer their wool and lambs at auction sale. The lambs are 

 examined by a committee of members who see they are up to the regu- 

 lation weight for the month and not deficient in quality. Those only 

 which can pass this examination are put up. After the buyers have an 

 opportunity for inspection sealed bids are offered and the highest bidder 

 takes the property. As many as 1,500 have been sold in one day at 

 prices ranging from $6 to $8 per 100 pounds. Some of these were to 

 be used in improving flocks, others to grace the tables of those who 

 appreciated good lamb. The sale in June does not command top prices, 

 the stock offered being not quite so good and the market not so buoyant. 

 A premium is given by the club to the member producing the best 

 lambs. 



The friendly rivalry engendered by this club has greatly improved 



