242 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



quiet, and orderly, never jumping, and not inclined to ramble; were 

 hearty feeders, and would thrive on anything given them, and bore 

 scanty pasturage better than any other large sheep. The ewes com- 

 monly had twins, and suckled them both; the lambs were very thriv- 

 ing, often reaching 100 pounds in five months on nothing but milk and 

 grass. A yearling ram from Mr. Fay's flock gained 15 pounds in three 

 weeks, and a ram lamb, weighing 85 pounds at five months, at six 

 months weighed 105, on nothing but grass. A ram seventeen months 

 old weighed 250 pounds, and at twenty-one mouths old 300 pounds, 

 and a five-year-old ram in 1860 weighed 360 pounds. Mr. Pay's ewes 

 weighed from 150 to 180 pounds. The fleeces of these sheep were thick 

 and heavy and found a ready market, the wool being of a very desir- 

 able quality for certain fabrics. Mr. Fay's flock averaged over 7 

 pounds of unwashed wool, for which, in 1860, he got 31 cents per 

 pound. As a breed from which to raise early lambs, one of the most 

 desirable and profitable branches of farming in Massachusetts, the 

 Oxford Downs were considered unrivaled on account of the quick 

 growth, early maturity, healthiness, and thriftiness of the lambs. 

 They made a most excellent cross for lambs on the native sheep. The 

 quality of their mutton was unsurpassed, and they possessed the rare 

 merit of ripening early.* 



The improved Cotswold or !New Oxfordshire, with large frames and 

 very white, open fleeces of moderately fine wool, were liked by many 

 Massachusetts farmers. Lawrence Smith, of Middlefleld, who had bred 

 them over eight years, or since 1853, thus writes to the Massachusetts 

 board of agriculture in 1860 : 



I doubt whether they are as hardy as the old-fashioned Cotswolda or Southdowna. 

 I have never had any trouhle with them in regard to cold weather or changes of cli- 

 mate ; indeed, they prefer an open, cool, airy situation to any other, and nothing is 

 more destructive to their health than tight, ill-ventilated stables. My present expe- 

 rience warrants me in saying that one-half the ewes will have twins. They are 

 capital nurses and milkers. I have not had, for the past seven years, a single case 

 of neglect on the part of the dam, nor have I lost a single lamb from lack of consti- 

 tution. Yearling ewes will weigh in store condition from 125 pounds to 175 pounds; 

 fat wethers at 3 years old from 175 pounds to 250 pounds. My heaviest breeding 

 ewe last winter weighed 211 pounds. My flock of store sheep and breeding ewes 

 usually shear from 5 to 7 pounds. My ram fleeces sometimes weigh 10 pounds 

 unwashed, and will sell in this condition for 25 cents per pound. I never feed my 

 store sheep and lambs with grain, but give them early-cut hay and occasionally a few 

 roots. 



A few sheep of the black-faced heath breed were imported in 1859 by 

 Sanford Howard for Isaac Stickney, of Boston, but in 1860 the Hamp- 

 shires and Shropshires had not made their appearance in Massachu- 

 setts. The prevailing breeds were the Leiceaters, the Southdowns, and 

 the Ootswolds. 



In 1860 the fine-wool industry had greatly declined, and a committee 



•Report of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, 1860. 



