SHEEP AND WOOL. 165 



old weigh from 601b. to 801b., and yield from 6lb. to lOlb. 

 of wool. 



Butcher Lambs. They sell well when ready for the 

 botcher by August or September. That is, where they 

 have the feed, for lambs will not fatten on poor stuff. 



The South Down Merino is very useful where lambs 

 only are required. They take on flesh rapidly, are well 

 shaped, deep and full in flesh. Possibly, the very best 

 sheep to breed butcher's lambs from is the first cross from 

 the Lincoln-Merino, again crossed by the South Down. 

 The progeny arrive at a good size, and weigh well very 

 quickly. But then, wool with the South Down cross in it 

 sells badly ; being shorter and harsher, and when once in 

 a flock, it will take a lifetime to breed it out. After the 

 first cross, we have to decide whether to breed for mutton 

 or wool. If for mutton, we must use coarse-woolled sires ; 

 if for wool, merino sires. But in either case pure bred 

 sires must be used. 



Buying Sheep. We may work on store sheep all the 

 time, and never breed any. To one who does this, sheep 

 which fatten quickly are of first importance, for any wild 

 wethers accustomed to wide grazing, and which travel 

 long distances do not settle down comfortably in small 

 paddocks. Quiet sheep fit the case in preference to wild 

 station sheep. Small sheep are not desirable, not only for 

 their size for which the usual difference in price partly 

 compensates but because they seldom fatten well ; their 

 condition being weak, most likely they may have disease. 



Risks from Poor Feed. Sometimes the beginner gets 

 a lot that puzzles him from their never getting " tip top." 

 On killing one of the poorest, we probably find the 

 stomach filled with felted balls of irregular size, caused by 

 taking indigestible feed, especially old tibry grass or leaves, 

 during long journeys in dry seasons. If the sheep are 

 young and the season early with plenty of sound feed, they 

 may partially recover, but if old or the grass is drying up, 

 there is no cure except the butcher's knife. 



Points of Sheep. The most profitable sheep is the 

 most perfect the country will produce. This can only be 

 obtained by close attention and culling ; and to do this it 



