Sm:i:i'-K.\isi.\<; IN IJumsii ( 'OLTMIUA. :J1 



AViih advancing age. the teeth become wider apart from growing out of the jaw 

 Tin- aim should he to keep the breeding flock composed mainly of "full-mouth" 

 ewes that is. 4 or ." years old as this is the most profitable breeding period. 

 Lambs should not be bred at all. Two-year-olds are not as reliable breeders as when 

 older. Any time alter 5 or 6 years of age teeth are liable to be lost or shed, 

 which hinders feeding and is a great detriment to the ewe's usefulness. A good owe 

 can be kept in breeding condition after this by some extra care and feeding, and 

 occasionally there are ewes which breed good lambs up to 10 years of age. 



JUDGING MUTTON SHEEP. 



After looking at the teeth to determine the age, look the bead over. A robust 

 head, broad between the eyes, is an indication of a good sheep behind it. Then feel 

 the shape, width, and depth of the neck, shoulders, and along the back to the tail- 

 head, using one hand on each side the body. By careful handling the fleshing on 

 the ribs and over the backbone can be estimated, also the width across the loin, and 

 lower down the fullness of the leg of mutton. Handling is more necessary in judging 

 shoe]) than with other kinds of live stock owing to the covering of wool. 



In the ewe it is important to possess good milking qualities if she is to rear 

 twins and get them early to maturity. Such a ewe is rather slender in the neck, 

 with a long, feminine face and a body something like that of a dairy cow, wedge- 

 shaped, dee]) in the chest, well-sprung ribs, deep-bodied, and wide across the liips 

 and loin. 



Quality is indicated mainly by cleanness of bone in the legs. Quality is 

 important from a butcher's standpoint, as there is more saleable meat from a 

 carcass of good quality, but even these will not dress much over half of their live 

 weight. 



The best wool on the sheep's back is around the shoulder, and the poorest on 

 the thighs. To open and examine the wool, use the hands laid flat on these parts. 



THE WOOL. 



Wool-fibre is covered with minute scales resembling to some extent those on fish. 

 These give the fibre its strength and its distinctive lustre. When a scale is injured 

 or destroyed through disease, starvation, or mechanically, a weak point exists in the 

 wool-fibre at that point, rendering it unfit to stand the strain of the combing process 

 in worsted manufacture. The interlocking of the scales of one fibre into those of 

 another makes felting or close matting possible, which is necessary to the production 

 of cloth. Merino wool, which is the finest, or least thick, often has but a single 

 scale going right around the fibre. The medium-fine wools, such as the Shropshire 

 and Hampshire, which have a thicker fibre, possess two, three, or more scales, and 

 the long-wools, such as the Cotswold. Lincoln, and Leicester, several more scales, 

 having the thickest fibre of all. The number of fibres growing on a square inch of 

 skin is between I.oun and <i,()00. By crimp is meant the wariness of the fibre. A 

 closely crimped fleece is a compact fleece, and one which will hold the oil or yolk in 

 the wool. This grease is a natural protection from rain and snow. Fine wools have 

 a greater crimp than coarse. 



STARTING A FARM FLOCK. 



The beginner will perhaps do better by starting with good grades than with 

 pnre-hreds until he gains experience. lie should by all means use a registered ram. 

 however. If he can obtain grades of the same breed and about the same type, his 

 work in breeding and improvement will be all the easier. 1'niforinity of type in the 

 Hock is very desirable. The use of only the best rams from prolific stock and true 

 lo type is important when we consider that in five years' time after starting a man's 

 Hock all the breeding ewes will most likely have been bred by himself. The breeder. 

 then, has the improvement of his flock in his own hands. In addition to using the 

 best rams, he must keep only the best ewes for breeders and sell the others. Kwes 



