CHOICE OF PARENTS. 



117 



I 



horns, ana hoofs. The fleshy parts change slowly, in 

 proportion as the mother has much of the blood of the 

 original race. The first changes take place in the head, 

 and are gradually developed towards the hind quarters. 

 Lastly, look to the condition in which your sheep are 

 as regards fatness. If fat, they will be averse to be- 

 coming pregnant, and considerable annoyance will, in 

 all likelihood, be experienced. A moderately low diet 

 is most suitable for ewes, for some time before the ram 

 is admitted, in the same way that fruit trees, when un- 

 productive in a rich soil, are rendered fertile by placing 

 straw and stones between their roots and the too nutri- 

 tious earth. A rather poor diet, also, during preg- 

 nancy, will be found to obviate many of those risks 

 which are sure to be incurred from repletion during 

 this period. 



(92.) Choice of Parents. — However faulty sheep 

 may be, some are always to be found surpassing their 

 fellows, and these it ought to be the aim of every 

 breeder to discover. Without acknowledge of an ani- 

 mal's pointSj it is in vain that the breeder can hope for 

 improvement. He may by accident make a lucky hit, 

 but, unless he has studied his business from the bottom, 

 he cannot follow up and avail himself of an advantage, 

 which a more knowing individual would, from previous 

 training, turn at once to a profitable account. Much 

 may be done by letter-press description ; and this 1 

 shall endeavour to achieve ; but more will be accom- 

 plished by a close and attentive examination of a few 

 well- selected animals, which it is now no difficult mat- 

 ter to get a view of, as, thanks to the spirited exertions 

 of the Highland StwHety, valuable specimens are far 



