150 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



BT E. P. BOWBITCH OP PRAJIIKGHAM. 



This branch of agriculture has been an invariable source 

 of profit to the tillers of the soil, as far back as we can get 

 any information. The Bible tells us much about the flocks 

 and herds, describing in some passages quite minutely the 

 ancients' method of tendino; and carinof for their flocks in 

 those old days. 



The origin of domestic sheep is wrapped in mystery, but 

 they are generally supposed to be descended from the wild 

 sheep of Asia, which Professor Low describes " as somewhat 

 less in size than the stag, having enormous horns, measur- 

 ing more than a foot in circumference at the base and from 

 three to four feet in length, triangularly rising from the sum- 

 mit of the head, so as nearly to touch at the root, etc. It 

 has a fur of short hair covering a coat of soft white wool ; 

 the color of the fur externally is brown, becoming brown- 

 ish gray in winter. These sheep are very agile and strong, 

 and move in a zigzag way, stopping to look at their pur- 

 suers, like the domestic sheep of to-day." 



Of a similar species is the Rocky Mountain sheep of 

 America. It will be of no practical advantage to try to dis- 

 cover how the domestic sheep were descended from their 

 wild ancestors, for we know that in Abel's time there were 

 sheep that were cared for in flocks, very much as in the 

 present day, and in those ancient days there was a demand 

 for wool, besides the skins, for clothing. The lamb business 

 in those days was rather more in the sacrificial line than 

 we look to for profit now. The manufacture of cloth from 

 wool must have begun at a very early date, for it is recorded 

 " that Laban went forth to shear his sheep." 



When this country was first settled many kinds of sheep 

 were brought over, without doubt, by the various settlers 

 from the old countries, and from the promiscuous breeding 

 of these, with perhaps a wild cross, we have the so-called 

 native sheep, — a lank, gaunt, slow maturing, short-wooled 

 animal, good for neither wool nor mutton. 



Spain seems to have been the first country to improve the 

 quality of their wool (the Spanish sheep date back before 



