214 Sheep Management. 



cool day after that date they may receive their 

 first trimming. Three trimmings should bring 

 them into very nice form, as their wool is longer 

 than that on yearlings, and therefore they can be 

 blocked out with fewer trimmings. While they 

 are being fitted it is necessary to give their feet 

 attention, one or two trimmings usually being nec- 

 essary to keep their hoofs in proper shape. 



SELECTING BLOCK WINNERS. 



Very often many of the pri/e winning wethers 

 on the hoof do not win on the block. This is prob- 

 ably true in more casrs in Kngland than in Amer- 

 ica. At the English shows fatter, softer, and more 

 blubbery wethers are shown than in America, and 

 these animals are awarded the pri/e money be- 

 cause the English seem to like Taller mutton than 

 do Americans. The American judges of fat weth- 

 ers have come to realize what it is that the butcher 

 wants when the animal is brought on the block. 



It has been demonstrated time and again that 

 the Southdown excels all other breeds when it 

 comes to the block test. This breed of sheep more 

 adequately fills the requirements of what consti- 

 tutes a good form, and shows the proper mixing 

 of fat with lean meat, which forms what is termed 

 "nicely marbled" meat. The carcass possesses 

 great thickness, and has the least tallow in propor- 



