29 



sold as soon as they will dress 50 to 60 pounds. The later lambs 

 and ewes are sold together during the summer. It is the exi)erience 

 of good farmers that from six to seven dollars advance on each ewi' 

 may be expected, say $4.50 for the lamb, $1 for gain on ewe, and 

 $1 for her wool. 



With regard to tlie production of wethers and the feeding of mut- 

 ton sheep, the practice will differ with the situation and opportiuiities 

 of different individuals. In the selection of breeds the following 

 statements, by the writer of a prize essay in the Country Gentleman 

 of the weights of dressed meat and washed wool, may be of interest : 



lbs. lbs. 



Lincolns carcase, 350 fleece, 28 



Cotswolds " 320 " 26 



Leicesters " .250 " 22 



Dorsets " 240 " 20 



Oxford Downs "240 " 18 



Shropshire Downs "220 " 16 



Hampshire Downs " 200 " -12 



South Downs "160 " 10 



These weights are of extra fed sheep, and the writer remarks 



" There have been individual cases of heavier weights, but not 



many." Each of the above named breeds has peculiar properties, 



which render it especially suitable to certain situations and conditions, 



but success in stock husbandry depends more on judicious selection, 



proi)er treatment and regular and well arranged feeding as to time, 



quantity and quality of food, condition of the animal, etc., than upon 



the intrinsic characteristics of any particular breed. 



From experience and observation, I am satisfied that with judicious 

 management the sheep returns, proportionately, as large a pecuniary 

 profit for its care and costs as any of our farm animals, and certainly 

 no class of animals, when well kept, and the manure husbanded, will 

 do so much to fertilize the farm. Why then do so few farmers keep 

 sheep? The reason usually assigned is " the dogs," or even more 

 emphatically " the d — d dogs." But I think this objection is entirely 

 over-rated. We have a very excellent law which taxes dogs just 

 enough to prevent people keeping them without use or motive, and 

 more than enough to make good any damage of which they may have 

 been the cause. I know many farmers claim that the amount they 

 recover does not compensate for the damage they have sustained, 

 but I also know that their neighbors think the dog fund pays higher- 



