QUESTIONS 163 



Properties. — Lincolns are noted for great size and for weight 

 of fleece. Being a heavy feeder it is not adapted to scanty pastures 

 and hence it is not a cosmopolitan breed. In quality of mutton it 

 is not of first rank, but the ewes are first-class mothers. 



Distribution. — In England the Lincoln is confined mainly to 

 its native home and nearby counties where there are many pros- 

 perous breeders. During the past twenty years it has been in strong 

 demand in the Argentine for crossing on Merinos, and English 

 breeders have carried on prosperous export trade with that country. 

 They have also exported considerable numbers to New Zealand 

 and Australia. 



On the fertile pastures in the Argentine, the Lincoln-Merino 

 cross makes a large growth and develops the high finish essential 

 for the foreign frozen mutton trade. The wool is heavy, long, 

 strong and lustrous, but not so desirable in fineness and softness as 

 the Australian and New Zealand wools. In New Zealand, the 

 Lincoln has been used in developing the new breed known as the 

 Corriedale, a sheep derived from crosses between English long- 

 wool breeds and Merinos. 



Lincoln flocks are not numerous in the United States and 

 Canada, but they can be grown into good specimens in many parts 

 of these countries. In Ontario some grand sheep have been pro- 

 duced and they can be developed to a high state of perfection in the 

 Coast Eegion of Oregon. Lincolns have been used to advantage 

 in the range flocks in western United States, where, because of the 

 wool and mutton to be secured, still greater use should be made of 

 them, particularly in those regions in which feed is fairly abundant. 



Breeders in England organized the Lincoln Long-wool Sheep 

 Breeders' Association in 1892, and the National American Lincoln 

 Sheep Breeders' Association came into existence in 1891. 



QUESTIONS 



1. How does the improved Lincoln differ from tlie old Lincoln? 



2. What of the value of the Lincoln for crossing purposes? 



3. Where do Lincoln breeders in England find a market for their sheep? 



4. For what are Lincolns noted? 



5. What sections in the United States are well adapted to pure-bred 



Lincolns ? 



