160 Sheep-Farming 



By this means and by later choices of sires and 

 cuUings of ewes, the inheritance has been arranged 

 for. The inheritance consists in ability to use feed to 

 produce a particular kind of fleece or carcass and to 

 develop rapidly under liberal feeding or more slowly 

 if the feeding is on a different order. The signifi- 

 cance of the adaptability of the parents is wholly 

 lost if the lambs are not afforded an environment 

 during their growing period that corresponds to 

 that in which and for which the breed was developed. 

 When the lambs are afforded ample opportunity 

 to do what is expected of them, the way they respond 

 can be given a good deal of weight in determining 

 which ones should be discarded. If the care they 

 receive is not equal to that furnished the foundation 

 stock, then there is no means of knowing whether or 

 not they are the equals of their parents, and there 

 is no reliable way of checking upon the breeder's 

 work. The importance of fairly testing the merit 

 of the lambs should further emphasize the need of a 

 clear plan of management before starting in. Other- 

 wise, after a few years have shown the most profit- 

 able plan of handling, it may be found that another 

 breed is needed. In such a case, a fresh start must 

 be made, and the experience gained is all that re- 

 mains, whereas if suitable stock had been procured 

 at first, the returns and the improvement effected 

 would be more satisfying than bare experience. 

 Cross-breeding. — The crossing of established 



