42 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



The date of the first importations of Border Leicesters is unknown, 

 both types of the breed having been registered by the same association, 

 and no mention was generally made of the type imported. During 

 recent years importations have been very rare. Practically all of the 

 Leicesters in America to-day are of a modified border type. This 

 modified American type is considered by many sheepmen to be 

 superior to either the English or Border Leicester. 



The breed is much more popular in Canada, and especially in 

 Ontario, than in the United States. Michigan, New York, Pennsyl- 

 vania, and Vermont have the largest number of registered Hocks. 

 At least one prominent sheepman of the West is securing good results 

 by crossing Leicester rams upon range ewes. 



The Leicester is the smallest of the long-wool breeds. Rams 

 usually weigh from 225 to 275 pounds and ewes from 175 to 225 

 pounds. The body is neat, showing great spring of rib, causing 

 apparent lack of depth; the mutton is not of especially high quality. 

 The fleece is of good length, the ringlets are more pronounced than 

 in any other breed, and the fiber is of good quality. Ten to twelve 

 pounds is a good average clip for a flock, and the wool usually grades 

 braid and quarter blood combing. The fecundity and early maturing 

 qualities of the Leicester are only fair. None of the long wools are 

 decidedly superior in these respects. The Leicester is one of the few 

 breeds of sheep that is acknowledged to have been improved in Amer- 

 ica, but the mutton qualities could still be considerably improved. 

 The carcass is too large when mature and the quality is not what 

 might be desired. They are also more upstanding than is desirable. 



The Dishley Society for the promotion of the Bakewell Leicester 

 was one of the first organizations founded for the purpose of promot- 

 ing a breed. Its existence has been charged as due entirely to 

 selfish motives, but whether or not this was the case, it aided in 

 establishing these sheep. 



At the present time in England there are separate societies for 



registering and promoting the Border and English types, but in 



America one organization has registered both. It is known as the 



American Leicester Breeders' Association and was established in 



1888. Up to January 1, 1914, 15,913 sheep have been registered. 



The secretary of the association is located at Cameron, 111. There 



is no scale of points, and none could readily be devised covering 



both types. 



THE COTSWOLD. 



For several centuries certain sheep of Gloucestershire and parts 

 of Hereford and Worcester have borne the name of Cotswolds. 

 Some authors claim that they derived their name from the region 

 and others claim that the hills derived their name from the 

 sheep. The derivation of the word is from "cote," a sheep shelter, 



