30 PROBLEMS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF SHEEP 



breeders taught the world a great deal about growing strong, fine 

 fiber and fleeces of exceptional weight. Australian breeders con- 

 tributed much in combining quality, length and weight and by 

 determining the types of wool suited to different environments ; in 

 fact they have led the world in the general merit and integrity of 

 their wool product. 



Although sheep breeders have by no means ceased to pay atten- 

 tion to wool, yet it is perhaps safe to say that the day of improve- 

 ment, as characterized by an attempt to get into the fleece the 

 maximum of fineness, length, and weight, has begun to wane. Great 

 changes have come about in the manufacturing processes of wool. 

 Long, fine wool, although still much sought after, is not so valu- 

 able, relatively, as it once was because combs have been invented 

 which will comb comparatively short wool. Manufacturers have 

 learned to- make all sorts of blends in order to meet the demands of 

 fashion and it seems that they are capable of meeting almost any 

 demand likely to be made. The world product is easily brought to 

 their doors and they can combine quality, length, and strength 

 through mechanical devices more cheaply than the grower can 

 through breeding. The rise in the importance of mutton has re- 

 sulted in a large amount of crossi-breeding in countries where the 

 bulk of the wool was formerly produced by pure Merinos. Reports 

 of the great wool sales in Bradford, England, show enormous in- 

 creases in amounts of cross-bred wool in recent years. This is a 

 pretty sure indication of either a check to progress in wool im- 

 provement through breeding, or of .a readjustment of the notions of 

 wool improvement. In the writer's opinion it is an indication of 

 the latter (Fig. 15). 



Improvement of Mutton. — Although the flesh of sheep has 

 always been used for food, it seems that the improvement of the 

 mutton qualities was a much later problem in sheep breeding than 

 was the improvement of wool. Whether the first object in improv- 

 ing mutton was to secure a more palatable product or a cheaper one 

 is not altogether clear, but the weight of evidence is in favor of the 

 latter, for it was said of Bakewell that when he was confronted by a 

 man who told him his sheep were so fat a gentleman could not eat 

 them, he declared that he was not breeding sheep for gentlemen, 

 but for men. More mutton, — ^on fewer acres, produced in less time, 

 to furnish more to eat with less waste, — was the object, rather than 

 to tickle the palate of the epicure. But before economy of produc- 



