136 ENGLISH BREEDS ADAPTED TO SUCH CROSSES. 



driving sheep, inferior to the Leicester in no particular, which 

 would be very essential in such situations ; and I cannot but 

 think that, for the object under consideration, those sub- 

 families of it which have not been too deeply infused with 

 Leicester blood, offer excellent materials for a cross. The 

 different Down families will bear shorter keep than the pre- 

 ceding, and will range over larger surfaces to obtain it. 

 They are considerably hardier than the Leicesters, or those 

 families of the improved Cotswolds which have much 

 Leicester blood. They can endure slight and temporary 

 deprivation of food better than the long-wools ; but it is a 

 mistake to suppose that any mutton breed or family will 

 fully, or profitably, attain the objects of its production, with- 

 out abundance of suitable food being the rule, and depriva- 

 tions of it any more than the occasional exception.* The 

 Downs also produce better mutton ; and the dark legs and 

 faces of the half-bloods always gives them a readier and 

 better market. But the half-blood Downs would generally 

 carry less wool than the half-blood long-wools. 



In hardiness, patience of short keep, and adaptability to 

 driving long distances, any of the half-bloods would surpass 

 their English ancestors, and would, under the conditions 

 already stated, generally flourish vigorously in our Western 

 States. If the views here expressed of the value of such a 

 cross are even approximately correct, the utility of embark- 

 ing in it at once, and the immense advantages which would 

 thereby accrue to individuals and to our whole country, must 

 be apparent to all eyes. 



Though the crossing of mutton breeds has, in many 

 instances, entirely different objects from those sought in 

 crossing sheep kept specially for the production of wool, and 

 though, consequently, the proper modes of crossing in the 

 two cases often vary essentially, stUl the general views ex- 

 pressed at page 130 in regard to unmeaning, aimless and 

 unnecessary crossing, are as applicable to the English mutton 

 sheep as to the Mermo. 



Recapitulation. — I will now, for greater convenience of 

 reference, recapitulate the principal positions taken in this 

 chapter. 



I. That it is wholly inexpedient to cross Merino sheep with 



* I speak of course of sheep which are grown only for the hutcher, the leading 

 ol)jccts of whofic production is high condition and early maturity. 



