336 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



The localities in which Merino sheep can be profitably kept 

 in the United States, are wherever the pastures are sweet and 

 dry ; the climate not too hot, and the land not too valuable 

 for other purposes. Wool is the great object in the sheep 

 husbandry of this country, and when sheep farms are remote 

 from the large markets, the Merino will make much the most 

 profitable returns. In the neighborhood of cities, where 

 large and fat sheep and early lambs bear a high price, the 

 mutton sheep may be substituted. 



THE SOUTH-DOWN. This valuable sheep has been known 

 and bred for a long time on the chalky downs of England, 

 where it has always maintained the character of a hardy 

 animal, yielding a medium quality of wool, and furnishing 

 mutton of a superior flavor. It was not however, till within 

 the last 70 years, that any considerable attention was devoted 

 to its improvement. Since that period, its fine points have 

 been remarkably developed, which is shown in its improved 

 size and form, and its early maturity and productiveness. 

 The late Mr. John Ellman of England, was the first who 

 took them thoroughly in hand ; and so eminent was his suc- 

 cess, that he founded a flock which has been the source from 

 which all the best blood has been since derived. His crite- 

 rion of a good South-Down is as follows : " The head small 

 and hornless ; the face speckled or grey, and neither too long 

 nor too short. The lips thin, and the space between the 

 nose and the eyes narrow. The under jaw, or chap, fine and 

 thin ; the ears tolerably wide, and well covered with wool, 

 and the forehead also, and the whole space between the ears 

 well protected by it, as a defence against the fly. The eye full 

 and bright, but not prominent. The orbits of the eye the 

 eye-cap, or bone, not too projecting, that it may not form 

 a fatal obstacle in lambing. The neck of a medium length, 

 thin towards the head, but enlarging towards the shoulders 

 where it should be broad and high, and straight in its whole 

 course above and below. The breast should be wide, deep, 

 and projecting forwards between the fore legs, indicating a 

 good constitution, and a disposition to thrive.- Correspon- 

 ding with this, the shoulders should be on a level with the 

 back, and not too wide above ; they should bow outward from 

 the top to the breast, indicating a springing rib beneath, and 

 leaving room for it. The ribs coming out horizontally from 

 the spine, and extending far backward, and the last, rib pro- 

 jecting more than the others ; the back flat from the shoul- 

 ders to the setting on of the tail ; the loin broad and flat ; 



