196 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



from inferior ewes and rams. The station lambs were 

 Shropshire grades mostly, and having been bred under the 

 care of Professor Craig were, we may be sure, excellent 

 of their kind. Twenty five of the common lambs were fed 

 along with twelve of the station lambs. The following- 

 table shows the results of the test. 



Northern Lambs. Station Lambs. 

 Average weight at the beginning.. 75.5 Ibs. 115.9 Ibs. 



Average weight at end of trial 93.7 



Gain in eight weeks 18.2 



Weekly gain 2.27 



Food eaten 



Corn fodder 102.7 ia5. 



Corn 48.8 71. 



Peas 48.8 71. 



Cost of feed $0.83 $1.17 



Cost of 100 Ibs. gain 4.58 4.08 



Each of the station lambs gained 1.3 Ibs. more than the 

 other lambs per \veek, and while they consumed more food, 

 the excess of food is not as large in proportion as the gain 

 made. This ability to eat and profitably dispose of good 

 food, is one of the most prominent features of better breed- 

 ing, indeed it is the very fundamental principle involved in 

 breeding, and thus, it goes without saying, that the better 

 bred the stock is the better feeding it demands, and in return 

 for this just compliance with the demands of the improved 

 sheep, these make a generous return with sufficient profit to 

 compensate the feeder for his just compliance with the de- 

 mands of his flock. This is never to be forgotten by those 

 concerned, who are anxious to get all the profit that may be 

 from their improved stock. 



An instance that may be pertinent, and that tells the 

 story in an emphatic manner, may be given. There was a 

 noted breeder of Jersey cows, who sold a high bred calf to a 

 farmer at a distance. This man was one of those who, very 

 mistakenly, think high breeding will give the ability to an 

 animal to live on less food than a common scrub, as it is 

 called; and that the high price paid for an animal of this 

 kind will be returned in the cheaper feeding of it. The calf 

 under this kind of management soon became an object for the 

 pity of any humane person, and of reproach to its owner. 

 The owner became exceedingly wroth against the breeder 

 of the calf, and as an example had the poor animal put on 

 exhibition at. a popular state fair, and on his card mentioned 

 the name of the breeder of whom the calf had boon bought. 



