siiEEP-nEAniKO.] AND TllFJll VAllIOUS BREEDS. 



[SIIKEP-IIKAUINO. 



ia generally imngined. It ouplit, in liis 

 opinion, always to have a ttMnli'iu*y t'> liglit- 

 blue in the ram, or Hotuo Loiri-sUM-sIiiro or 

 Teeswatcr tampering may bo suapfcted. Good 

 legs is nnotlu'r great e8^^CIltial. The tendency 

 is to encourage llesh developments on tlio 

 bnclv, to the ne:;lect of the legs, especially in 

 the Lcicesters. The fino development of the 

 back seems not only to have robbed tlio leg of 

 its muscle, but, by contrast, to have exagge- 

 rated its owu deformity. The dread of a long, 

 coarse leg of mutton has diniiniahed the cir- 

 cumference, as well as the length ; and, though 

 )] short leg of mutton is desirable in a Leices- 

 ter, we must guard against a loss of its rotun- 

 dity. Size is also of consequence. The finest 

 ppecimeus of Leicester — the purest and most 

 Fvmraetrical — are now decidedly the smallest. 

 Breeders should earnestly look to this, and bo 

 careful, in selecting the ram, to have masculine 

 ijualities enough to secure a hardiness in the 

 flock. In reference to the various points 

 sought after by breeder?, not because of their 

 own intrinsic value, but because of their being 

 evidence of other valuable qualities, is an 

 aptitude to fatten, and the attainment of an 

 early maturity. In the Southdown breed, for 

 example, small heads, legs, and horns are es- 

 teemed, because experience has pronounced 

 them qualities which are found usually as- 

 sociated with fattening properties. Black 

 muzzles and legs are, also, highly valued, be- 

 cause they are indicative of a good consti- 

 tution, and a certain degree of hardiness, which 

 epeaks well for the animal. Roughness of the 

 back, roundness of frame, and breadth of loin, 

 are also points in great request, being not 

 only the signs of good qualities, but, in reality, 

 good qualities in themselves. Straightness of 

 the back, although perfect in the Leicester, is 

 not natural to the unimproved Southdown, 

 but rather the contrary. In the improved 

 breeds, however, it appears, and is considered 

 an excellent point, as it gives a greater sm'face 

 for the accumulation of flesh, and aflords 

 larger scope for the abdominal organs. The 

 opposite of this, as witnessed in a round or 

 convex back, is produced, and increased by the 

 effects of hunger and cold, and is almost sure 

 to make its appearance, should the breed be 

 exposed to neglect, and the rigours of an in- 

 clement season. In summing up some of the 



profitable requisites of a well-formfd anima), 



it may be stated, that it should have as mucii 

 flesh, aiul as little bono and griHtle as possible; 

 and this flesh should be found where it is most 

 wanted, and, therefore, most valuable. For 

 example, it is much more profitable on the loins 

 and quarters than about the head, and upper 

 or scrag-end of the neck. AVIiere there ia a 

 largo development of flesh, a proportional dis- 

 position to fatten may be expected ; but to bo 

 profitable, it is necessary that these qualities 

 should be early developed, or, in other words, 

 should bo exhibited by an early maturity. 



Having described the points of the ram, wo 

 may observe that the ewe should be straight 

 and broad-backed, wide in the loins, and deep- 

 breasted. The angles of her frame will always 

 be sharper than those of the ram ; but depth 

 and breadth, with fineness about the throat 

 and legs, ought always to be specially attended 

 to. To secure uniformity in the flock, the 

 ewes ought always to be as much alike as 

 possible, otherwise it will be the next thing to 

 an impossibility to obtain this desirable object. 

 We have already observed that, in breeding 

 for improvement, it is a good rule to breed 

 from the best of the kind ; and if a superioi* 

 ram of the same breed can be obtained from 

 another flock, it ought to be taken, and a 

 preference given to it, should its qualities be 

 equal to any one possessed by ourselves. If 

 our own, however, excel all others within 

 reach, then it should be used, but with the 

 precaution of marking the ewes which are 

 deficient in any of the qualities desired to bo 

 perpetuated. 



Cross-lreedinij of sheep has attracted a 

 great deal of attention ; and its object is either 

 to increase the size, or to improve the form ; 

 to stimulate its fattening tendencies, to give it 

 an earlier maturity, and to extend the length, 

 or enhance the quality of the wool. To prac- 

 tise any of these improvements, it might, at 

 first sight, appear that all that would have to bo 

 done, would be to select a ram of any special 

 breed, distinguished for the particular quality 

 desired to be produced. This, however, will 

 not always prove suitable ; for, by so doing, 

 a breed will frequently be reared, either weak 

 in constitution, or defective in form, on ac- 

 count of the too great dissimilarity between 

 the parents. Therefore, to render crossing 



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