254 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



Kind of sheep to raise. The selection of type and breed 

 should take into consideration the kind of pasture and feed 

 to be used, and the system of farming in which sheep raising 

 is to be included. For example, if the farm is very rough 

 and sparsely covered with grazing plants, some hardy breed, 

 such as the American Merino for wool, or the Cheviot for 

 both wool and mutton, would probably be the best selection. 

 If the system of farming is one in which much grain is pro- 

 duced and other live stock raised, some breed of sheep that 

 could clean up roughage and crop residues, and that would 

 fatten easily when fed grain would be a good choice. The 

 Shropshire, or some other medium-wooled breed, would 

 answer this purpose. 



It is usually wise to select the same type and breed already 

 being raised successfully in the community, for there is an 

 advantage in cooperation among farmers to secure superior 

 breeding stock. 



The following is a brief outline giving some of the charac- 

 teristics of the common breeds of sheep. There are two types, 

 corresponding to dairy and beef types of cattle one being 

 valuable mainly for wool and the other for mutton. 



Wooled type. Sheep of this type are frequently referred 

 to as " fine wools " to distinguish them from sheep of the 

 mutton type which also produces wool, less valuable because 

 of its coarseness. The sheep of the fine-wooled type are 

 probably descendants of the Spanish sheep known as Merinos, 

 and " Merino " is commonly used to designate this type. 



The Merino is characterized by its dense covering of very 

 finely crimped wool, and when shorn, by its angular body. 

 Merinos in America are of two breeds: American Merino, 

 and Rambouillet or French Merino. 



American Merino. Sheep of this breed are of three 

 classes, A, B, C. These classes may be distinguished by the 



