MODERN SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 83 



broncho-pneumonia than other breeds. The libel, however, did not 

 have any ill effect, since the charge was without foundation, and 

 South American breeders are too well acquainted with the merits 

 of this great breed as money-makers to think seriously of such 

 ridiculous accusations. 



Although feeders and breeders of mutton sheep, almost the 

 world over, seem to recognize the merits of this great breed of 

 sheep, it has not made the headway in this country that might be 

 expected of it; but during the past year or so, some of our western 

 breeders have tried it with considerable success and pinned their 

 faith to it. The trouble with the Lincoln in this country seems 

 to be that they get into hands who do not realize that they are big 

 feeders that must be well fed if profit is to be derived from them. 

 In the fat stock show yards, the Lincoln has given a good account 

 of itself, and at a recent Smithfield Club Show in England three 

 wethers took champion prize over all breeds under the hands of a 

 well-known breeder and exhibitor of Shropshires. The butcher who 

 purchased these wethers said in regard to them : "The three sheep, 

 champions of the Smithfield Show in 1902, were absolutely the three 

 best sheep of their kind I ever cut; they were grand carcasses. 

 They were long, level and very full of flesh. I have seen sheep that 

 have only weighed 28 pounds a quarter fatter than these three, and 

 here are the weights: No. 1 weighed 239 pounds; No. 2 weighed 

 230 pounds; No. 3 weighed 214 pounds. I do not know what the 

 skin weighed, but they were put in a special class by themselves 

 at the hide and skin market, Hull, and made 13s. each." 



Twenty-five pounds of washed wool is not an uncommon 

 weight for a Lincoln ram fleece, and as much as thirty-two pounds 

 of clean washed wool has been recorded. A good breeding flock 

 will average from twelve to fourteen pounds each fleece'. A three- 

 shear wether was killed weighing 386 pounds, a two-shear 364 

 pounds, and a shearing 284 pounds dressed. 



At this year's Royal (1907) what is said to be the greatest 

 ring of sheep (quality and everything considered) ever shown, was 

 made by pens of five yearling Lincoln rams, in which no less than 

 155 sheep competed. " Some of the fleeces of these exhibits were 

 fully two feet in length. 



Among the first to take up the breeding of Lincoln sheep in 

 this country was Robert Knight of Michigan. He was the first to 

 introduce them west of the Missouri River. 



Among Canadian breeders who have done their share towards 

 popularizing the Lincoln on this continent the names of Gibson, 

 the Robsons, Neil, Geary, Oliver, Walker, the Patricks, Parkin- 

 sons, etc., may be mentioned. 



The following anent this great breed of sheep is from the Eng- 

 lish Flock Book : "The Lincoln sheep has been in existence, and 

 recognized as the established breed of the county, upward of one 



