Essay on Sheep. 149 



wool. The average of my half-breed sheep is 

 four pounds and three-quarters; whereas, with 

 the same keeping, the stock irom which the 

 ewes came would not average more than three 

 and a half; and among my half-breeds are 

 many whose jfleeces are so fine as to make cloth 

 equTrt-to imported cloth which sells at four dol- 

 lars a yard. Sheep of this grade may be ob- 

 tained at a very cheap rate by those who do not 

 choose to go to the expense of a full-bred ram. 

 Let them purchase a half-blood, in which they 

 will have the advantage of a considerable 

 choice of tups, and may select such as are 

 best adapted to the flocks they wish to im- 

 prove, either one that carries a large and 

 long fleece, or one whose wool is short and 

 fine. He will cost twelve dollars and fifty cents; 

 the second year it will be easy to dispose of him 

 for the first cost, and, by doubling the price, 

 to purchase a three-fourths breed tup. This, 

 with the quarter bred lambs, will at once give 

 an half-bred flock at the expense of twelve dol- 

 lars and fifty cents; he may then select the tups 

 from his own flock, and sell his rams, and thus 

 change his flock to half-blood without one cent 

 expense, the fleeces of the rams overpaying 

 the interest of the money and the keeping. 

 The extension of this valuable breed of 



