72 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



better example before us of the desirability of a large 

 variety of sheep, whether for mutton, of which we are be- 

 coming large and larger consumers every year, or for wool 

 of which we are working up more and more continually. 



The Lincoln sheep is a growth of many years' culture in 

 a special district of England known as the Lincolnshire fens, 

 and the adjoining counties of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. 

 In this district agriculture has been carried on under the 

 highest -system, the growth of roots, and the accompanying 

 flocks fed on this crop, having advanced the agricultural 

 methods so conspicuously, that what is known as the Nor- 

 folk system is held to be the highest type of farming. Hence 

 it is to be expected that the sheep of this locality should be 

 something beyond the common line. 



For centuries there has been a Lincoln breed of sheep 

 which surpassed in size all other breeds. Its fleece also 

 surpassed all others in length of fiber and weight. It was 

 a great coarse animal, the wool swept the ground on which 

 it fed, and an average fleece weighed twelve to fifteen 

 pounds, which a century ago was phenomenal as compared 

 with other breeds. The carcass was very fat inside, and 

 made the then highly esteemed chops having three fingers 

 of fat on the meat. But, as might be easily thought, this big 

 coarse animal was not a profitable one after the work of 

 Bakewell with his improved Leicesters was about complete. 

 The intelligent breeders of the old Lincolns at once adopted 

 Bakewell's work, and improved their flocks by crossing the 

 New Leicesters on them. Thus the Leicesters took the same 

 place with the Long-wools that was taken by the South- 

 downs among the Short-wools. This crossing has changed 

 the old Lincoln from its former condition of a coarse form, 

 with flat sides and hollow flanks, and big legs and feet, 

 to one of handsome proportions, with finer wool, having good 

 luster, and highly estimated for the worsteds class of goods. 

 Its fleece has long been the material of which the bunting 

 of the national flags of all countries have been manufactured 

 on account of its great strength and its ability to withstand 

 the battle and the breeze. Our own Stars and Stripes have 

 this kind of wool for the raw material, and it is always 

 in demand for braids and other manufactures which call for 

 this special material, long fiber and great strength. 



