GROWING AND FITTING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION 257 



the breeders in evolving superior types and to the skill 

 and fidelity shown by the shepherds in caring for the 

 sheep. In some flocks, however, many of the pure-bred 

 sheep shown even at the largest fairs are bred at home. 

 Whether the time will come when prize-winning sheep at 

 the leading fairs shall be grown rather than imported, is a 

 question on which opinions differ. The solution must 

 come from the genius of our people, for in some portions 

 of the United States the conditions are very similar to 

 those found in Great Britain. 



The leading characteristics to be sought in pure breds 

 that are to be shown are those which belong to the vari- 

 ous pure breeds, as indicated by the standards which be- 

 long to these. It is absolutely essential that the breed 

 characteristics shall be present, including in fair degree 

 even points that are regarded as fancy, because of the 

 extent to which these influence the awards of many 

 judges. The characteristics as to form and size are rela- 

 tively the most important, but those that relate to wool 

 are also important. It should be carefully examined with 

 reference to density, length, texture and all other quali- 

 ties, and also with reference to its even distribution over 

 the body. The shades of color in head and legs all have 

 a bearing on the awards, and the same is true of a rosy 

 and pink skin. In the males much stress should be laid 

 upon the evidences of masculinity, and in the females on 

 those of femininity. Prominent among the former are 

 compactness, strong head, neck and breast development, 

 and strong but not coarse limbs. Prominent among the 

 latter are refinement of head, neck and limbs, and a suffi- 

 ciency of length of body. When selecting sheep to be 

 mated with a view to rear show animals from them, much 

 attention should be given to the record of performance in 

 the near ancestry when such information is obtainable. 



Sources from which grades and crossbreds come 

 Grade and cross-bred sheep shown at fairs are almost en- 

 tirely grown on the farms of those who exhibit them ; 



