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IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREEDS. 



from rare. In breeding and rearing rams, two divisions 

 of these animals are recognised,— ram getters, and 

 wedder getters, — the former, from their fineness, being 

 kept for the procreation of animals like themselves, 

 while the latter, from their coarseness, are set aside as 

 fitted only for parent stock for grazier's sheep, the mere 

 grazier liking a ram no worse for having a massy frame, 

 and being less scrupulous about his form than the ram 

 breeder, whose grand object is fineness, and who trusts 

 to the ewes for giving the offspring size and substance. 

 The principal ram-breeders are guided in the choice 

 of their ram-lambs, more by blood or parentage, than 

 by form, on which, at so early an age, little depend- 

 ance can be placed. In the case of the Dishleys, 

 they allow them every indulgence, from the time of 

 weaning till that of shearing, as they push them forward 

 with the intent of letting them the first season, while 

 yet yearlings. It is this early arrival at maturity, 

 which is, with truth, supposed by some to occasion 

 their early falling off; for by a law of the animal 

 economy, premature adult age is always succeeded by 

 premature decay ; life appearing to be dated from the 

 time the animal enters on the fulfilment of the ends for 

 which it was created. 



According to Mr Bakewell, the shape which should 

 be the criterion of a sheep, is that of a hogshead or 

 firkin, truly circular, with small and as short legs as 

 possible : upon the plain principle, that the value lies 

 in the barrel, not in the legs ; and all breeds the backs 

 of which rise in the least ridge are bad. Their bodies 

 should be as true barrels as can be seen, their backs 

 round and broad, and their legs not much exeeedingr 



