78 MODERN SHEEP I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



been largely eliminated by careful breeders. The Dorset is scarcely 

 so heavy a shearer as the Shropshire, but its fleece is a very desira- 

 ble and saleable class of wool. A Dorset flock that will average 

 eight pounds is considered a good one. In this country and the 

 British colonies, the Dorset has earned quite a respectable repu- 

 tation as a cross-breeder. In England, the Dorset ewe crossed with 

 Down rams produces fat lambs second to none. This cross is very 

 much used in Somersetshire and Dorsetshire with what is known 

 as off-going ewes, that is, ewes that are fast passing their day of 

 usefulness in the pure-bred fold. These off-going ewes and their 

 lambs are usually fattened at the same time and go to the butcher 

 together, or at short intervals apart. 



To Kichard Seymour is due the credit of improving the Dorset 

 on its native heath, that is, latter day improvement. As improv- 

 ers also must be mentioned the names of Farthing, Kidner, Cul- 

 verwell, and Chick, who were a few years ago in the thick of show- 

 yard battles, and the names of Flower and Hambro, who are doing 

 the fighting at the great English shows at present. The best 

 known flocks in this country at present are the Tranquillity flock 

 of New Jersey, Wing's of Ohio, Gifford & Nash's of Indiana, Hen- 

 .derson's of Pennsylvania, Arbuckles' of Virginia, and Harding's of 

 Ontario. The Hon. John L. McGillivray of Ontario, until sickness 

 caused his retirement, was a faithful champion of the breed. 



Dorsets are more numerous in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New 

 Jersey than in other states in this country and are particularly 

 well adapted to those states. In Virginia and Georgia they have 

 given a wonderfully good account of themselves and should be 

 money-makers in those states if kept only for the early lamb raising 

 business, not to mention what might be made out of them from a 

 pure-bred breeder's standpoint. 



THE CHEVIOT. 



The Cheviot is one of the most beautiful and hardy of all 

 the British breeds. In temperament it is not unlike the South- 

 down, being very alert, inquisitive and suspicious, but always ready 

 to make friends with those who make the first overtures. The 

 Cheviot is a good sheep, the one thing wrong with it being that its 

 breeders do not know the value of printer's ink in exploiting its 

 virtues. In color the Cheviot is white. Its head from the back 

 of the ears forward is covered with clean, white hair, as are also 

 its legs. Its nose is black. Horns occasionally occur in rams of 

 the breed, but are considered a blemish. The Cheviot is of Scotch 

 origin and for over a century it has been one of the most popular 

 of the Border breeds, although the Cheviot Hills, from which it 

 gets its name, is really its home. The Cheviot-Leicester cross is 

 considered a good one in the north of England. The Cheviot 



