GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE SHEEP. 125 



the precursor and type of the " Lamb of God who taketh away the 

 sins of the world." 



Sheep are endowed with great powers of adaptation to different 

 conditions of climate ; they are found in all parts of the world, 

 and the management of them, of course, varies in accordance with 

 the characters of the environment to which they are subjected. 

 While existing in the wild or semi-wild state, they roam about 

 hither and thither on open fields and plains, and exhibit a 

 considerable amount of sagacity in regard to the selection of 

 their food. One of the reasons why the sheep is a specially 

 valuable animal is because it can be maintained without great 

 difficulty even in situations where other animals could not find 

 enough to live upon. Moreover, this useful creature gives a 

 very good return for the food which it consumes, supplying us as 

 it does with our woollen clothing as well as with mutton. The 

 manipulation of its wool alone gives employment to thousands 

 of artisans. Great credit is due to the breeders who by their 

 enterprise and by the prolonged exercise of their unremitting 

 skill and industry have brought about the production of our modern 

 improved breeds of sheep. We may now give a few hints as to 

 breeding of sheep. Before setting a flock, the characters of the soil, 

 situation, and climate should be carefully considered, since such 

 conditions to a large extent guide us in forming a decision as to 

 what breed would produce the best return. Then we should select 

 the most superior animals of the particular breed selected. It is 

 said that "breeding in the line" is probably the best method, and 

 that " crossing " and " breeding in and in " are not advisable. 

 However, even when using the method spoken of as " breeding in 

 the line," much depends upon the correct matching of the males 

 and females, especially if they are chosen from different families, 

 even though they belong to the same race but have been raised in 

 other districts, and have consequently been influenced by climate 

 soil, situation, and management. When using rams of the same 

 flock, they should not be put together nearer than a third remove 

 in the same line of blood. If this rule is departed from by put- 

 ting together animals more closely related, it is very probable 

 that disappointment will result; but if the third removes are 

 put together judiciously, first-rate animals may be produced. 



It seems that particular kinds of wool are associated with cer- 

 tain kinds of mutton, and hence it is seen to be important that 



