76 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



the Delaine than in the American Merino; and in the 

 Rambouillet than in the Delaine Merino. Notwithstand- 

 ing that the three breeds named last have been evolved 

 from the first. 



The influence of food on the length of staple is consid- 

 erable. It is probably less, however, than the influence of 

 breed and of selection in breeding. Generous feeding 

 makes modification in the length of the wool fibers easier 

 in the direction of increase, but it would seem correct to 

 say that the influence of food is much greater on the diam- 

 eter of the wool fibers than on the length of the staple. 



The influence from grade — that is, from cross breed- 

 ing and grading on the length of the staple — is very 

 marked in many instances. It is marked in proportion to 

 the contrast between the length of the staple in the 

 breeds crossed. The Cotswold and Lincoln crosses in- 

 variably lengthen the staple in wool when crossed upon 

 the other breeds. The Southdown cross shortens the 

 same in nearly all breeds. This influence on the length 

 of staple is much greater than that of the other influences 

 named. 



The influence of age on the length of staple is not in- 

 considerable. The longest fleece is that which is first 

 taken from the sheep when it represents one year's 

 growth. This is owing, doubtless, to the greater activity 

 of the processes that relate to nutrition in the same ani- 

 mal. The second shearing will furnish wool something 

 less in length, and each year subsequently there will be 

 some decrease in the length of the staple. The difference 

 in the length of staple between a young sheep and the 

 same when advanced in age is marked. 



Length of staple is secured and maintained by liberal 

 feeding. The more liberal the feeding, up to a certain 

 limit, the longer will be the wool fiber. It does not fol- 

 low, however, that the relation between food and growth 

 in the wool corresponds exactly to the relation between 

 food and flesh production in the same animal. For in- 



