182 PBBMAITENT MAEKS ON SHEEP. 



highest degree, constitution excellent. The second -woiild 

 read thus : No. 2 is 5 years old, is of the smallest size, of the 

 best form, has an inferior lamb, her breeding qualities are 

 only middling, weight of fleece 5 lbs., quality of ■wool prime, 

 length of staple middling, thickness of fleecff middling, fleece 

 of more than medium yolkiness, covering of belly below 

 middling, covering of head first rate, no wrinkles, constitution 

 quite defective. The star at the left of !N"o. 2, signifies that 

 she is to be drafted from the flock. If I had a ram exceed- 

 ingly strong in the points where 'No. 1 was most defective 

 viz., in form, quality of wool and covering of head, I should 

 be likely to write his name opposite in the column of 

 "Remarks," to signify the propriety of coupling them the 

 ensuing fall. If any sheep had any special defect not 

 included in the record, I would place that fact in the same 

 column. * 



The above system of registration may appear to many 

 persons to be attended with a good deal of labor and trouble. 

 I know by abundant experience that there is not the slightest 

 difficulty in recording these memoranda with the utmost care 

 and accuracy, and at the same time keeping up with five or 

 six shearers. To prevent any confusion, where there is alone 

 a chance for it, namely, in crediting fleeces to the wrong 

 sheep, I throw down a card by each sheep which is being 

 sheared, marked with its number as entered in the Register, 

 in connection with its other qualities. The card is taken up 

 with the fleece, and kept with it until the latter is done up 

 and weighed. Habit soon renders the eye prompt to decide, 

 and at least as accurate here as under any other circum- 

 stances. I had as lief sell sheep, or select them for coupling, 

 by my Register, as to give them a new examination at the 

 time ; and I certainly could do so far more understandingly 

 than by examination without the Register at any period 

 within five or six months after shearing. 



Marking and Numbering. — Sheep should be marked 

 immediately after shearing with the mark of ownership — 

 usually two of the owner's initials stamped on the side by an 

 iron brand dipped in paint. Whether they need additional 

 marks, so that each can at any time be distinguished from all 

 the rest of the flock, depends upon the owner's modes of 



* It is understood, of course, that the above are merely imaginary cases to illus- 

 trate the mode of keeping a record. Such a sheep as No, 3, would hardly be found in 

 any good breeding flock. 



