APPENDIX 6. 437 



sex. I learn, also, that yearling ewes shear the largest per centage they 

 ever will shear, and that they shear less and less per centage as they 

 grow older, till they are four years old. They gain until five, when they 

 are in then: prime, and raising a lamb at that age does not decrease the 

 product of wool as it has done ; but at six they have passed the meri- 

 dian, and for the product of wool commence going " down hill." 



It can be seen at a glance that wethers shear their largest per 

 cent, when yearlings. At two, they have lost 1 per cent., after which 

 they commence gaining, and continue to gain till they are five years old, 

 after which I know nothing of the facts. 



The facts are just as obvious in the classification by weight. The 

 smallest sheep shear the largest per centage, and as their weight 

 increases the fleece decreases in proportion, till they weigh more than 100 

 lbs. , when it increases the fifth of 1 per cent. — a smaller increase than any 

 decrease in either of the tables. This being the exception to what 

 before seemed to be the rule, leads me to believe that the number in the 

 class is too small, and that I ought to have had 100 sheep at least in this 

 class to arrive at the truth. If it could be ascertained what per cent, of 

 lambs 100 or 1,000 ewes would raise, and the average market price of 

 average lambs on the 1st of October, it could be very easily csilculated 

 which would be the most profitable to keep, a flock of ewes or wethers. 

 But as there is no likelihood of this being done, and as ewes are 

 absolutely necessary to increase the flock, perhaps no farmer will be bold 

 enough to have a flock exclusively of wethers, though I am confident 

 that these tables will prove that the wethers have brought to the farm 

 the most money at the average price of wool and lambs. 



If I had the time I might pursue these deductions further, with 

 profit to myself if not to those Who read ; but I think enough has 

 already been disclosed to give any Inquiring mind a stimulus to pursue 

 the investigation. Every wool raiser ought to know which of his sheep 

 he is keeping at a profit and which at a loss. By weighing the fleeces as 

 they are shorn, he thinks he knows all about it, when in reality he 

 knows nothing, or at the best only half. At sheep shearing the carefiil 

 breeder ought to know what any sheep ought to shear when it comes 

 on the floor. For instance, next year we shall have a dozen four 

 year old wethers, any one of which ought to weigh somewhere near 

 ninety pounds and shear seven pounds. If any one weighs up to the 

 average of the last three years, and shears above the average, keep him 

 — if below, sell him. When a ewe is brought on the floor, other things 

 have to be taken into consideration, as she is to breed, viz., the quality 

 of the wool, the form of the body, beside the weight of the fleece and 

 weight of the body. If she has raised a lamb, it must be examined ; if 

 a ewe lamb, particularly. In our flock we have now made a atcmda/rd 

 to which we can refer; our eflforts of course will be to excel it. Those 

 who keep flocks expressly for their increase, will make a standard of 

 their own, and those who keep sheep exclusively for wool, will make 

 their standard accordingly. Every breeder ought to know every fact 

 certainly, and have his record to refer to. 



