CHAPTER XIX 

 THE LINCOLN 



History. The native home of the Lincoln is in the low country 

 on the east coast of England in Lincolnshire. Long before the day 

 of the improved Lincoln the rich pastures on the Lincoln fens 

 were the feeding grounds of long-wooled sheep reputed for their 

 great weight of fleece. They were white-faced sheep, coarse, un- 

 gainly, and bred for wool with practically no attention given to 

 their mutton qualities. They were large consumers of feed and 

 matured slowly, but nevertheless, they were popular with Lincoln- 

 shire farmers and when the practice of using English Leicester rams 

 was begun there was bitter opposition on the part of a number of 

 breeders. But without losing much in weight of fleece, the offspring 

 from the Leicester sire matured earlier and possessed better mutton 

 form than the pure Lincoln, and as a result the use of Leicester 

 rams continued until the improved Lincoln was finally evolved 

 (Fig. 108). 



Description. There is a strong general resemblance between 

 the Lincoln and the Leicester, but the Lincoln has greater size, 

 more robust appearance, firmer flesh, and more wool. The head of 

 the Lincoln is longer, the face broader, the profile of the face fuller 

 and bolder, and the ears larger and thicker than in the Leicester. 

 The Lincoln lacks the quality of the Leicester, but makes up for it 

 in substance. From brisket to twist the carcass is thick and heavy, 

 and in these respects it is not surpassed by any breed. Large devel- 

 opment in the leg of mutton is especially emphasized. Mature rams 

 in breeding condition weigh about 300 pounds, ewes 250 pounds, 

 but highly fitted specimens greatly exceed these weights. The wool 

 covers the body and forms a tuft on the forehead, but it does not 

 extend over the top of the head just above the eyes. On the legs it 

 extends to the knees and hocks. 



The Lincoln leads the mutton breeds for length and weight of 

 wool. On the average, the length of staple representing one year's 

 growth is about twelve inches, and sheep producing less than eight- 

 inch staple are considered unworthy of registration by the National 

 Lincoln Sheep Breeders' Association. The wool is rather coarse, 

 11 161 



