182 SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



as being "long, fine, and well calculated for combing-, and fleeces 

 weighing about eighty-five pounds at two years old. They fatten kindly 

 and early, and are tlie most popular sheep for the market, but are not 

 very sure breeders nor good nurses." Mr. James Bagg, of Montgo- 

 mery, New York, a very large importer of cattle, sheep, and hogs, 

 presents a comparison and an estimate of the value of the only breeds 

 to which we deem it necessary to call the attention of American 

 farmers. The reader will draw his own conclusions. 



" A Saxon lamb, six months old, weighing 18 lbs. at 8 cents, $1.44 



Merino lamb, " " " 20 " " 1.60 



Bakewell, " " " 30 " " 2.40 



Cotswold, " " " 60 " " 4.80 



South-down, " " " 50 " " 4.00 



In the second, their wool. 



Saxon fleece, weighing 3 lbs. at 50 cents, $1.50 



Merino " " 3 " "40 " , 1.20 



Bakewell" " 5 " "30 " 1.50 



Cotswold" " 10 " "36 " 3.60 



South-down " " 5 " "40 " 2.00 



" The above, I think, will show the ditference in value of the 

 lambs and fleeces, but no one is to suppose that eight cents per pound 

 is the value of the Cotswold or South-down lamb. They are now 

 worth about twenty to twenty-five dollars each. I would not sell at 

 a less price. 



"In the third place, the sheep when full grown. 



Saxon sheep, weighing 50 lbs. at 6 cents. $3.00 



Merino " " 60 " "6 " 3.60 



Bakewell " " 110 " "6 " 6.60 



South-down " " 120 " "6 " 7.20 



Cotswold " " 240 " "6 " 14.40 



" The Bakewell I consider a sheep not at all adapted to this cli- 

 mate, being of a tender constitution, hard to keep, wool coarse, small 

 fleece ; another objection is, when the wool is a few inches long, it 

 parts and leaves the back of the sheep naked ; and when exposed to 

 cold storms, the animal is much injured, and many of them die. The 

 Saxon and Merino I find much alike, both of a weak constiintion, 

 and require great attention to keep them alive, through the v/inter; 

 they are also very bad nurses ; a great difhculty in rearing their lambs. 

 I have conversed with many gentlemen w'ho keep large flocks of 

 Merino and Saxon sheep, and they all agree what I have stated re- 

 specting them to be correct, but they say we must have fine wool. 



" I must say that the South-down and Cotswold sheep have ex- 

 ceeded my expectation. I have seen some of the South-down wool 

 manufactured into cloth fine enough for any man; and if people get 

 the pure-blooded South-down sheep, they have an animal in every 



