272 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



ing, with such skill as it is ordinarily conducted, all know who have given 

 attention to the subject ; and for these reasons the system is looked upon 

 with decided disapprobation and repugnance, as among all kinds of domes- 

 tic animals, by nine out of ten of the best practical farmers of the Northern 

 States. 



How, then, shall the sheep-breeder avoid the effects of in-and-in breed- 

 ing, and at the same time preserve the character of his flock? He should 

 do so by seeking rams of the savic hrecd, and possessing, as nearly as pos- 

 sihle, tlic characteristics leliicli he wisJies to jireserve in his own flock. If the 

 latter rule is neglected — if he draws indiscriminately from all the different 

 families or varieties of a breed — some large and some small — some long 

 and some short-wooled — some medium and some superfine in quality — 

 some tall and some squabby — some crusted over with black gum, some 

 entirely free from it, &c. &c. — breeding will become a mere hotch-potch, 

 and no certain or uniform results can be looked for. So many varieties 

 cannot be fused into one, for a number of generations ;* and it not unfre- 

 quently happens, as between the different classes of Saxons alluded to by 

 Mr. S2iooner,t that certain families can never be successfully amalgamated. 



But suppose the breeder has reached no satisfactory standard — that his 

 sheep are deficient in the requisites he desires 1 If the desired requisites 

 are characteristic of the breed he possesses, he is to adhere to tlie breed, and 

 select better animals to improve his own inferior ones. If he has an infe- 

 rior flock of South-Downs, and wishes to obtain the qualities of the best 

 South Dams, he should seek for the best rams of that breed. But if he 

 wishes to obtain cpialities not characteristic of the breed, he 2^ossesses, he 

 must cross xoith a breed ivhich does possess them. If the possessor of South- 

 Downs wishes to convert them into a fine-wooled sheep similar to the Me- 

 rino, he should cross his flock steadily with Merino rams — constantly in- 

 creasing the amount of Merino and diminishing the amount of South-Down 

 blood. To eftect the same result, he would take the same course with the 

 common sheep of the countiy, or any other coarse race. There are 

 those who, forgetful that some of the finest varieties now in existence, of 

 several kinds of domestic animals, are the result oi crosses, bitterly inveigh 

 against the practice of crossing, under any and all circumstances. As fre- 

 quently conducted, where objects incompatible with each other are sought 

 to be attained — as, for example, an attempt to unite the fleece of a Merino 

 and the carcass of a Leicester, by crosses between those breeds — it is an 

 unqualified absurdity. But under the limitations already laid down, and 

 with the objects specified as legitimate ones, objection to crossing savors, 

 in my judgment, of prejudice the most profound, or quackery the most 

 unvarnished. The cry, " buy full-bloods," with such men, generally means. 

 " buy our full-bloods ! " It is neither convenient, nor within the means of 

 every man wishing to start a flock of sheep, to start exclusively with full- 

 bloods. With a tew full-bloods to breed rams from, and to begin a full- 

 blood flock, the Southern Vn-eeder will find it his best policy to purchase 

 the best common sheep of his country, and gradually grade them up with 

 Merino rams. In selecting the ewes, fair size, good shape, and a robust 

 constitution, are the main points — the little difference that exists between 

 the quality of the common sheep's wool is of no consequence. For their 

 wool they are to look to the Merino ; but good form and constitution they 

 can and ought to possess, so as not to entail deep-rooted and entirely v.n- 

 nec'essary evils on their progeny. 



"■ This occasions the want of uniformity in the Rarabouillct flock in France, wkich was begun by a pro- 

 miscuous admixturo of nil the Spauish families, 

 t Quotpd in Letter X, 

 (560) 



