SHEEP. 219 



hardy, producing a better quality of mutton and wool, though 

 not quite so heavy a fleece. They do not mature so early or 

 attain so great a weight of meat as the Leicesters, when fed in 

 the English style, with turnips and oil cake. They are accounted 

 far more prolific, a flock of ewes often averaging one and a half 

 lambs, while a Leicester flock does well to average one lamb to 

 each ewe." 



The sheep on exhibition at the recent show in Northampton, 

 were chiefly South Downs, mixed with other breeds. Although 

 they were good animals, and in many respects far ahead of 

 ordinary flocks, we are inclined to think that purer blooded 

 animals might be made still more profitable to the owners. 

 Good points, well established, are very desirable, as they can be 

 relied upon with some degree of certainty. The South Down 

 sheep of Mr. Linus Greene, of Hadley, were large and hardy 

 looking. Mr. Greene sold his lambs from them last summer, 

 for more than five dollars per head. He replenishes his flock 

 by lambs raised as cossets. The buck of John A. Morton, of 

 Hadley, also a South Down, mixed with merino, was the best 

 looking animal of the kind, exhibited. His fleece is firm, and 

 of tolerable fineness, and his body of good proportions. The 

 buck of J. M. Chapman, of Westhampton, was a fine animal 

 and yields a heavy fleece, but of coarser grade. The only other 

 buck exhibited, that of Orange S. Moore, of Southampton, was 

 of the English and Leicester breeds. He was five and a half 

 months old, weighed ninety-six pounds, and possessed desirable 

 qualities. But our examination of these various animals, with 

 the information obtained of their owners relative to their respec- 

 tive value, tended only to confirm our opinion that the South 

 Downs are the breed of sheep which will yield the greatest 

 profit to the farmer. There is an insuperable objection to some 

 of the long-wooUed sheep, which, were there no other reason, 

 will prevent their becoming a favorite with large farmers. 

 They do not thrive well in flocks, unless they have extra care 

 and feed. 



Without citing further proof of the suggestions we have 

 made, we leave the subject in the hands of those immediately 

 interested, believing that its importance demands the consider- 

 ation it receives. 



Hiram Barrds, Chairman. 



