LONGWOOLS. 65 



still run to great weights, and work well on pasture, or on " seeds," 

 rape, and other root crops. Lincoln mutton does not appeal 

 to those who have been accustomed to Down or mountain sheep ; 

 but the great weight, quickly and cheaply raised, together with 

 the exceptionally heavy fleece, ensure a good return to the breeder 

 and feeder. In fact, it is doubtful if any breed at a time when 

 mutton and wool sell well realise so much on the year's feeding. 

 Wethers of 12 st. dead-weight, cutting 16 Ib. or more of wool, 

 are not uncommon with ordinary management on good land. 

 Rams have been known to yield a tod (28 Ib.) of wool at a cutting, 

 and ewes half a tod. The staple (or locks consisting of many 

 fibres of wool arranged in natural bundles) of well-bred hoggs 

 should be as broad as a man's two fingers, and may be up to 20 in. 

 in length, with a bright lustre and wavy appearance. 



The Lincoln has undoubtedly been used very much on some 

 of the long-wool breeds in their period of making or improvement, 

 possibly more so than the common use of the breed name of Leicester 

 would suggest ; but in some of the other long-woolled breeds 

 there is more suggestion of the Lincoln than the Leicester, though 

 in the very early days of sheep improvement the Leicester prac- 

 tically had the field to itself. In the great sheep countries, south 

 of the Equator especially, the Lincoln breed has played a great 

 part, and there is still a big demand for them. The longest prices 

 in British sheep especially so over considerable numbers are 

 associated with the Lincoln breed. The sale of Messrs. R. and W. 

 Wright's Nocton Heath Flock, in 1906, numbering 950 animals, 

 for, it is said, over 30,000, stands out prominently in British flock 

 records. The flock had a record of careful breeding since 1790. 



The demand for mutton of finer quality, with less fat, has 

 for a considerable number of years induced many farmers to use 

 Down rams on the ewes, and where, in the memory of many, a 

 Down-faced sheep was unknown, very large numbers of cross-bred 

 sheep are met with. But on its native land it seems essential 

 to keep to the Lincoln stock as a basis for crossing, and both for 

 home and foreign use, heavy stocks of pure breeds are required. 



The Flock Book was established in 1892. Care is taken to 

 maintain the constitutional vigour that the breed inherited from 

 the old Lincoln ; yet, in spite of the great weights attained, the 

 plentiful bone, and the full woolling, there is a very noticeable 

 aspect of kindliness about the breed. 



THE WENSLEYDALE. 



The Wensleydale is named after the Yorkshire Dale of that 

 name, and is a modern appellation. It has much in common 

 with the long-wool breeds of the lowlands, but has a distinctive 



