50 



THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



It will be of interest, however, to know something of 

 what is doing in this line of sheep breeding and culture in 

 other countries, for instance in France, where the Merino has 

 achieved a world-wide notoriety for its special value as a 

 wool producer, as well as for a very good mutton sheep. 



The Merino stands first in France as it does in Germany 

 and Spain. But on the whole the rather stolid and careless 

 system of husbandry in those countries is not well adapted 

 to enterprise or success in improving the live stock of any 

 kind. But some of the most intelligent French breeders 



LEICESTER-MERINO CROSS. 



have recently taken considerable interest in the improve- 

 ment of their flocks by crossing on them the English breeds, 

 especially the Leicester and the Southdown. The former 

 cross with the Merino has produced an excellent sheep with 

 a good carcass and a valuable fleece, and the produce of this 

 .cross is the most popular, as it is the most valuable. This 

 good work has been done in the best cultivated districts as 

 Champagne, Beauce, and Chattillouais. There the best 

 farming in France is to be seen, and sheep rearing is one of 

 the most profitable parts of it. The most common sheep of 

 these localities, however, is the cross of the old natives by the 

 French Merino. The produce of these crosses go by the 

 name of Metis-Merino or half-bred Merino. The Merinos 

 have been crossed with tue English Leicester with the result 



