SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 361 



the French Merino. The improvement was so successfully carried on 

 that this breed about 1825 became the largest pure Merinos in the world. 

 One feature was their great folds of skin in the neck and a loose skin 

 over the body. 



The French Merino was brought to this country in the "Forties," and 

 a single ram would produce twenty to twenty- four ponnds of unwashed 

 wool, while a single ewe would produce fifteen to eighteen pounds. 



The first of this class of sheep were taken to Hartford, Connecticut, 

 from which place they soon spread through the northern states. But 

 they showed tenderness and fell rapidly into disfavor. They do not 

 seem to be fitted for our severe winters and our rough farming, and re- 

 quire more care than most American farmers care to give a flock. The 

 best seemed to thrive and proved profitable, but the inferior ones were 

 good for nothing. Thus they have nearly disappeared from our conti- 

 nent, although since the French exposition there has again come an in- 

 terest in these sheep. While not desirable as a full "bred," yet as a 

 cross with some of our American Merinos they are of value, and even for 

 the pure breed there is a place in our agriculture which it will hold and 

 keep, in spite of its past adversities. It probably will not be in the 

 north where the winters are rigid, but in the belt of our milder climate. 



The Cheviot. Crossing the boundary line that separates England 

 from Scotland are the Cheviot hills. Here has been bred for ages a 

 variety of sheep which has received the name of its pasture land. They 

 are a very hardy sheep, which originally were small and light-boned. It 

 is a very useful breed, and when fed upon sweet, dry fodder, proditces 

 so choice a mutton that it is much sought after by the epicure. 



The head is without horns, and like the legs, is white. Its face is 

 strong featured and massive, but shows gentleness, with a lively eye. 

 The body is long, and set upon clean, trim legs. Like all breeds that 

 have had the hills and mountains for their home, the fore-quarters are 

 light, but they have heavy hind-quarters and a full saddle. They are a 

 quiet and docile breed, and while as a mountain breed thej' stand on the 

 top round, they are also a good lowland variety. 



The Cheviots are good mothers, and the lambs are hardy, spending 

 their whole life on their native hills without shelter, except from very 

 severe storms. They fatten easily on turnips, without grain, and when 

 three years old will dress eighty pounds. They shear on an average 

 five pounds of fine wool, if fed upon a good pasture. It is their wool 

 which has given the name to the famous Cheviot cloths. 



