46 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



bred Lincolns for about 175 years. This famous flock was dispersed 

 in July, 1913. 



Until about 1850 little attention was given the Lincoln outside of 

 its own locality. Since that time it has spread over Lincolnshire, 

 Rutland, and several neighboring counties. The breed has also 

 become famous in Australia, New Zealand, South America, South 

 Africa, Canada, and the United States. Crossed upon fine-wool sheep 

 of Merino blood, the Lincoln has given especially favorable 

 results in Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The large 

 body and long fleece are apparent to such an extent in the cross that 

 a very profitable lamb results. By continuing this crossing the 

 Corriedale breed has been established in the former countries. The 

 Lincoln is also bred pure in these countries, but the type is somewhat 

 different from the English Lincoln. 



Old-type Lincolns are said to have been brought to America pre- 

 vious to 1796. In 1825 A. A. Lawrence, of Massachusetts, made an 

 importation of 10 head of the improved type, and several other im- 

 portations followed shortly afterwards. A Lincoln ram was recently 

 imported to Oregon from New Zealand. The type varied consider- 

 ably from that of the English breed. 



The Lincoln is adapted to fairly fertile and arable farming sec- 

 tions, as they do not thrive upon broken pasture. They also require 

 a fairly humid climate for their greatest development, which accounts 

 for their importance in Oregon. In this State they attain a measure 

 of excellence not excelled by those of England. The Willamette 

 Valley is the breeding grounds for Lincoln rams for use upon the 

 range, and the demand is greater than the supply. Ohio and Mich- 

 igan are also noted for their purebred flocks. In Oregon and Mon- 

 tana especially, and in some of the other States to a lesser extent, a 

 great many cross-bred Lincoln fine-wool lambs are produced.' The 

 lambs produced by this cross are exceptionally profitable and are 

 very popular upon the market. 



Taken as a breed, the Lincoln is the largest of all English sheep, 

 but individuals of the Cotswold breed may equal them in size. The 

 rams should weigh from 250 to 375 pounds and the ewes from 225 

 to 275 pounds. Their mutton is only of fair quality, it being some- 

 what coarse and not as palatable as that of the Down breeds. 



As the Lincoln is the heaviest breed, it also produces the heaviest 

 fleece of all the mutton breeds. The staple is long (samples being 

 reported that measured 21 inches), very lustrous, and hangs together 

 in distinct staples. Fleeces have been reported that weighed 32 pounds 

 washed wool, but they usually range from 12 to 16 pounds, with 

 1 4 pounds as a good avorago for a flock. The commercial grades of 

 this wool are braid and low quarter blood. In the Northwest fleeces 

 are sometimes allowed to grow for longer periods than one year, 



