104 THE SHEPHERD'S 



purchased by Mr. William A. King-, of Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. 

 George Grant, of Kansas, also has a flock. Their adaptability to 

 our climate is therefore in a fair way of being thoroughly tested. 



THE ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP. This breed is also an inhabitant 

 of low, alluvial lands. Its home is in south-eastern England, in 

 the extensive marshes of the county of Kent, which are ditched 

 and diked in the same manner as those of Holland. It has ex- 

 isted there from time immemorial, and has fed on the rich clay 

 lands which are so productive of herbage as to be capable of carry- 

 ing 14 sheep to the acre. This breed has also been much improved 

 by crossing with Leicester rams. It is hardier than the Lincoln, 

 and survives much neglect. It is rarely sheltered, even in severe 

 weather, and the lambs are generally pastured during the winter 

 In the stubbles upon the adjoining uplands, where they undergo 

 many privations. It is not improbable that this hitherto neglected, 

 but valuable and hardy sheep, could find suitable homes upon our 

 eastern coasts, and rich river flats, where it would serve a better 

 purpose than the more highly bred and delicate Leicester, in im- 

 proving, or displacing, our less valuable native sheep. The charac- 

 teristics of the Romney Marsh sheep are : a thick, broad head and 

 neck, long carcass, flat sides, broad loin, full and broad thigh, 

 neither heavy nor full fore-quarter, thick, strong legs and broad 

 feet; wool long, somewhat coarse, and coarsest on the thighs; 

 much inside fat, and a favorite animal with the butcher. There is 

 a tuft of wool on the forehead. The fleece weighs from 7 to 10 

 pounds, is of long staple, sound quality, and bright and glossy ; 

 it is in demand by French and Dutch manufacturers for a sort of 

 mohair fabric known as " cloth of gold," (Drap cCor). At three 

 years old the wethers dress from 100 to 120 Ibs., and the ewes 

 from 70 to 90 Ibs. After a moderate amount of crossing with the 

 Leicester, it was found that to persevere further in this direction 

 tended to make these sheep less hardy, and the cross was at once 

 abandoned. Inter-breeding amongst the cross-bred sheep main- 

 tained the improvement without sacrificing the hardiness and 

 vigor of constitution, which renders this breed so well adapted to 

 its bleak and wind-swept pastures. 



THE LEICESTER. It was more than a hundred j^ears ago that 

 the old Leicester sheep fell into the hands of Mr. Robert Bakewell. 

 They were then large, heavy, coarse animals, having meat of a 

 poor flavor, a long and thin carcass with flat sides, large bones, and 

 thick, rough legs. They were poor feeders, and at two or three 

 years old made 100 to 120 Ibs, ot mutton. The wool was long and 



