SECRETARY'S REPORT. 115 



raise early lambs, one of the most desirable and profitable 

 branches of farming in this Commonwealth, this breed is unri- 

 valled on account of the quick growth, early maturity, healthi- 

 ness and thriftiness of the lambs. 



As previously mentioned under the head of " native sheep," 

 they make a most excellent cross for lambs on the old " English 

 or Irish smuts " known so long here as native sheep. The 

 quality of their mutton is unsurpassed, and they possess the rare 

 merit of ripening early. Dark-faced sheep as a general rule, 

 are the most desirable as being tlie most hardy, making the best 

 nurses, ripening earliest and making from the least feed, not 

 only the most but the best mutton. 



CROSS-BREEDING. 



The subject of cross-breeding has been with us a question of 

 more than ordinary examination. It is a matter of regret, that 

 so far as we are informed, there have never been any well-regu- 

 lated or properly directed experiments in the cross-breeding of 

 sheep in this Commonwealth; and so far as we know the 

 attempts in this country to cross-breed systematically, establish- 

 ing a fixity of character in the new-created breed, have been 

 very few ; it has been done by a few gentlemen in Maryland, 

 and by some Kentucky breeders, with such success as to have 

 given their sheep a great reputation. An intelligent under- 

 standing of the principles that control this is of such importance 

 to the skilful breeder, that we have thought expedient to devote 

 considerable space to them, and have made use of all the materi- 

 als within our reach ; the works of Mr. Spooner, Dr. Blacklock, 

 Mr. Youatt, and the essays of Mr. Finlay Dun, Mr. Lawes, 

 John Wilson, M. Malingie-Nouel, all eminent writers or breed- 

 ers, are among the authorities we use and freely quote. 

 Although perhaps in this country we have not the same advan- 

 tages or necessities for cross-breeding as in England, yet without 

 doubt our sheep might have been vastly improved by careful 

 and judicious selections and breeding ; but as a general thing 

 our people will not devote the time, tlic skill, the patience 

 necessary to change permanently the character of any of their 

 domestic animals, nor have they attempted to breed with any 

 well-determined purpose. 



