BEEEDINtr RbA rrffi. 281 



5 or 6 years old, for when they have attained that age, their 

 progeny begins to fail in vigor and strength. Much, how- 

 ever, depends upon the treatment he receives. If a ram is 

 carefully used, not over-worked,- he will retain his vigor and 

 elasticity much longer, and I have known rams 7, 8, or even 

 9 years of age, whose progeny was as vigorous as that from 

 a ram of 3 years old. 



" I select my stock rams with the greatest care, for I con- 

 sider this the most impor|ant point in breeding ; arid here I 

 find my records of great value in aiding me to make the best 

 choice. If, for instance, I have a ram before me, who has, 

 in every respect, the requisite qualities, and turning to my 

 records, I find his ancestors occupy a high rank, that is, 

 stand in the first class for a number of generations back, 

 I then have no hesitation to appoint him a sire for my ewes, 

 and in nine cases out of ten, he acquits himself to my entire 

 satisfaction. Or, if I have two rams before me of equal 

 quality, and hardly knowing to which one to give the pref- 

 erence, my records decide the question, for the one who has 

 the best ancestry is preferred to the other. 



" The experienced shepherd knows, that even in full- 

 blood flocks, not all individuals are equal in quality of wool, 

 size, form, &c., but that some families arrive to much greater 

 perfection than others. Here again my records are of great 

 value, for with their aid I can designate every individual 

 member of each famil^r, and cross them with other families, 

 and in such divisions as I think most beneficial. For eleven 

 years have I thus managed my flock, and selected my stock 

 rams from those of my own raising, and yet I have no very 

 near relationship, and I can go on eleven years more in the 

 same manner and avoid that error, only taking a little more 

 trouble, and some years use more rams, than to a superficial 

 observer would seem necessary. Now if my sheep were 

 not numbered and recorded, I could not go on without run- 

 ning the risk of injury to my flock by too close breeding. 

 This is an important point in the breeding domestic animals 

 of all kinds, and if once lost sight of, the injury will soon 

 be perceived by the experienced and discerning eye, which 

 injury is often irreparable. Tha,t it is lost sight of and is 

 overlooked by top many of my brother shepherds, is but too 

 true, and this is one reason why so many make but little 

 progress in the improvement of. their flocks."* 



• Notwithstanding Mr. Grove undoubtedly was equal if not superior to 

 24* 



