NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



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NEW LEICESTER SHEEP. 



This valuable breed, in its improved condition,! poll. The breast broad and full; the shoulders al- 

 has been produced by the skill and perseverance of; so broad and round, and no uneven or angular for- 

 Robert Bakcwell, Esquire, who ranks among the ' ^^^^^i^" ^^^^''^^ the shoulders join either the neck or 



!the back, particularly no rising of the withers, or 

 lioUow behind the situation of these bones. The 



most distinguished of f^nglish breeders. He com- 

 menced his career as a breeder, about 100 years ago, 

 and for a long course of years he pursued his de- 



arm fleshly tlirough its whole extent, and even down 

 to the knee. The bones of the leg small, standing 



sign with that zeal and intelligence which is sure tol wide apart, no looseness of skin about them, and 

 lead to success j comparatively bare of wool. The chest and barrel 



T> ■ ».'•»• ,1- • r • 1 u J I at once deep and round; the ribs forming a consid- 



rrevious to his time this species of animals had! ^ .u / • ■ "^ 



^ lerable arch irom the spine, so, as in some cases, 



been bred with a view to great size and large'^^j ggpepigUy ^,,hen the animal is in good cond> 

 fleeces, without regard to symmetry, or the quality! tion, to make' the apparent width of the chest even 

 of fleece or flesh. Aptitude to fatten and early ma- 1 greater than the depth. The barrel ribbed well 

 turity were also minor considerations. j home, no irregularity of line on the back or th- 



As Mr. Bakewell considered thecarcass the mostr;^")''.'!".^' ^" '''^ f"''''' ^^^\ T"""^^ very gradually 

 , ,, ,. , , ,• 1 1 J- I diminishing in width towards the rump. Ihequar- 



valuable part ot the sheep, this was made a leading ^^^^ j^,^^ ^,^^j ^-^^U^ ^^^^ ^^ ^.-^^^ ^^^ \^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ 



object with him. Yet as this breed yields a large 



muscles extending down to the hock; the thighs a!- 



fleece, of tolerable fineness and of strong fibre, itisjso wide and full. The legs of moderate length, the 

 ot' considerable value; and we should recom-| pelt also moderately full, but soft and elastic, and 

 mend this breed where the fleece is a leading con- jfo^'^^ed with a good quantity of white wool, not so 



., . [J-.- -uji- X J long as in some breeds, but considerably finer, 



sideration. It is distinguished for compactness and ^, . , ,, , , ,. , , , 



symmetry of form; for early maturity; for its fat- j 



tening propensities; and for the mixture of fat with 



This valuable breed of sheep has been scattered 

 over Great Britain, and they are found in varioi!*s 

 sections of the United States, and in the British 

 provinces. They are adapted to lands tolerably 



the lean, having but liitle loose fat on the inside. 



The following description of the new lei jester 

 , J ■ ,. ,1 . 11 . 1 I AT II a I fertile, though they do not require the luxuriant 



breed IS from that excellent work by Morrell, tlie; ,^,^,j ,, 



herbage ot the Cotsw'old, and other larger breeds. 



And hilly lands with short pasturage, are better 



"American Shepherd. 



The head should be hornless, long, small, taper- , . i . ,i,„ «„ ♦», t-> nu ■. j .i. 



, ., , , • .- u • .11 adapted to the South Downi, Cheviot, and other 



mg towards the muzzle, and projecting honzontallv ii u j i, i ■ ex. 



forwards. The eyes prominent, but with a quiet 

 expression. The ears thin, rather long, and di- 

 rected backwards. The neck full and broad at its 

 base where it proceeds from the chest, but gradu- 

 ally tapering towards the head, and being particu- 

 larly fine at the junction of the head and neck; the 

 neck seeming: to project straight from the chest, so 

 that there is, with the slightest possible deviation, 

 orve continued horizontal line from the rump to the 



smaller breeds, than to this race; forthej'are large 

 and should not be compelled to travel far to gather 

 their food. 



In many sections of our country, the raising of 

 new Leicester sheep for the market would be prof- 

 itable, if particular attention should be paid to ob- 

 taining a good sized carcass and fat mutton, as such 

 command high prices. 



