58 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



Its mutton is excellent, but like that of all other sheep 

 it is affected by the food, and for its best quality should be ' 

 finished on such succulent food as turnips, or mangels, but 

 best, of all on sugar beets. It lives well on thin pasture and 

 is easily fatted for market. 



Its fleece is longer and a little coarser than that of the 

 Southdown, and that of a good ordinary flock of ewes should 

 weigh seven or eight pounds to the fleece. Its average 

 dressed weight is twenty to twenty-two pounds to the quar- 

 ter, when finished in the best manner. 



The Shropshire's face is longer and larger than that of 

 the Southdown, the nose is slightly protuberant (Roman) in 

 form, the ears a little larger. The face and legs are blackish 

 brown or sometimes mottled with gray. White spots on these 

 places are objectionable as considered from the standpoint 

 of the standard of excellence, and black spots on the body 

 should be held as a disqualification, especially for breeding 

 animals. Thin ears are indications of tenderness of consti- 

 tution, and should be objected to by those who desire to 

 maintain the stamina of the breed. A somewhat run-down 

 and neglected flock has been immediately restored by a new 

 cross of the Southdown. The high character of this breed 

 is show r n by its appearance all over the U. S. and Canada. 



The fleece should be wholly free from black hairs, line 

 in staple, somewhat longer than that of the Southdown, 

 and closely set on a clear pinky skin. Breeding for increased 

 weight of fleece has resulted in producing coarse wool, and 

 in selecting rams the fineness and close setting of the fleece 

 are to be considered before mere weight. This breed is 

 essentially one for the farm flock, while it is duly hardy 

 and a fit rustler for the ranges. It has a strong constitution, 

 good feet, and is especially free from the common diseases 

 of the flocks, 



THE HAMPSHIRE DOWN. 



This is a cross breed, of which the preponderating charac- 

 teristic is its early maturity. Sir John B. Lawes, in his most 

 instructive experiments in feeding, proved that the Hamp- 

 shire made more weight of carcass from the same quantity 

 and kind of food, than the hitherto unsurpassed Southdown. 

 The principal point in favor of this breed is its early matur- 



