SHEEP PRODUCTION 257 



mutton. The breeds vary considerably in their capacities for 

 mutton and wool production. The Southdown is the smallest 

 and is regarded as the most perfect of the mutton type. It 

 produces a good quality of wool, but not a large quantity. 

 It is well adapted to hilly pastures. 

 The Shropshire is medium in size and in fleece. It com- 



Mutton type medium wool. Shropshire. 

 (U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.) 



bines many excellent qualities and is perhaps the most popular 

 of all the mutton breeds in America. 



The Oxford is the largest representative of the mutton 

 type. It also yields the heaviest fleece among the medium- 

 wooled breeds. 



The Hampshire is nearly as large as the Oxford. It is 

 lacking somewhat in the quality of mutton and fleece but 

 has the ability to make rapid gains in weight, surpassing 

 other breeds in this respect. 



