On Tunis Sheep. 219 



make them. They will bear to be kept fat, without be- 

 ing diseased, far beyond any others within my know- 

 ledge. The carcase is heavy, but not coarse ; as are 

 many other sheep of large sizes. The heaviest ewe of 

 this breed I have known weighed 182 pounds alive, 

 when sheared. Her fleece, clean washed, weighed eight 

 and one half pounds, she was half blood. A half bred 

 ram, a twin, at 18 months old, weighed 214 pounds.* 

 4. Their character is that of gentleness and quie- 

 tude. And they live in heahh, vigour, and usefulness, 

 to greater ages than other sheep. I never saw a breachy 

 Tunis sheep. Some exceptions there may be, but they 



* Although I have mentioned the sizes and weight of 

 sheep, and facts as they respect the mutton, I do not value 

 the large sheep the most. I have always found that mode- 

 rately sized sheep, of any breed well fleeced, are the most 

 profitable. One of the finest, and proportionately heaviest 

 fleeced and superior fleshed wethers, of the full blooded Tunis 

 breed, weighed 18 pounds the quarter. He was stunted in his 

 growth, by an accident when a lamb. I do not admire very- 

 fat mutton, of any breed. The Tunis ewes are the smallest ; 

 and generally carry the finest fibred fleeces. I have long been 

 convinced, that large cattle are the least profitable. Middle- 

 sized horses^ are to be preferred. 



I think it a great mistake in crossing, to prefer sheep of 

 large sizes ; though, no doubt, some respect is to be paid 

 to this circumstance. The qualities of fleece, flesh, temper, 

 hardihood, healthfulness, and tendency to feed well and ceco- 

 nomically, are more important than size. The largest sheep 

 have generally the coarsest wool, and most indiff'erent mut- 

 ton. The full bred Tunis sheep are naturally of sizes the 

 most eligible. The old ram was reasonably large j and much 

 above the size of common sheep. 



