EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 431 



cent on the investment, and have the original stock on hand worth as 

 much or more than at the time of purchase. 



Many of the early lambs raised in New Jersey are sold in the market 

 in New York City when 2J to 3 months old at $8 to $11 each, and lambs 

 at 5 weeks old sell for $9 per head. One of the most successful and 

 public-spirited farmers of Sussex County selects strong ewes of western 

 grades and uses Oxford or Hampshire rams, and succeeds in getting 

 $11 per head for ninety or more of his crop of lambs and an advance 

 on the ewes bred from. 



It is not absolutely necessary in this branch of industry that the farmer 

 should have a large body of land. A few, who have skill in manage- 

 ment, buy a flock of western ewes in the late summer or early fall and 

 put them on a lot large enough only to give them exercise needed for 

 health, and keep them through the entire period upon root crops grown 

 on a few acres, with bran and other feeds, then sell off both lambs and 

 mothers in spring or early summer, to begin with an entirely new stock 

 the succeeding autumn. The only sheep remaining during the summer 

 is a lone ram, confined to a small patch where he can graze the fresh 

 grass. Sometimes the flock is cleaned out entirely even to the ram, a 

 new one being purchased every season or hired from a breeding flock. 

 In this system it is very essential that the ewes selected be sound of 

 udder and of teat, and are not what is termed "broken mouthed" and 

 unable to use their grinders on roots, grain, or hay. In feeding on 

 grass the loss of a few teeth does not so much matter, but when the 

 sheep are to be fed on harder and drier substances the loss is severely 

 felt. Thorough mastication and good digestion are absolutely neces- 

 sary to good condition in the ewe and a good supply of milk. 



The ordinary and well-known mutton breeds have been raised in 

 New Jersey for many years. The most recent introductions have been 

 the Hampshire Downs and the Horned Dorsets. The Hampshires, 

 though brought into the country in 1855 by Thomas Messenger, of Long 

 Island, were extended slowly. Now they are quite widely distributed 

 throughout the country, and pure flocks are maintained in New Eng- 

 land, in each of the Middle, and in many of the Western States. Three 

 flocks were maintained in New Jersey in 1891, two in the county of 

 Burlington and one in Sussex. Mr. Martin Dennis, owner of the Sus- 

 sex flock, states that the forty or fifty head comprising it are descended 

 from three distinct importations, and that his experience of twelve 

 years as a breeder convinces him that they are the best breed for pro- 

 ducing a large carcass of high quality mutton, such as is now demanded 

 in our large cities. They are a hardy sheep and stand well the ex- 

 tremes of our American climate, and are especially adfipted to the hill 

 counties of New Jersey and generally to our pasture lauds and our 

 methods of winter feeding. The ewes are excellent mothers, having 

 large udders and a bountiful supply of milk, upon which the lambs 

 mature more quickly than those of other breeds. Mr. Dennis' Hamp- 



