114 THE BEEF BONANZA. 



The greatest possible difference of opinion exists 

 among sheep-owners as to the proper manner of breed- 

 ing. Some breed in, and others out ; some say sheep 

 should be bred up to the highest point, while others 

 contend a cross is best. Without pretending to express 

 an opinion, I would, if handling a herd, breed up Cots- 

 wolds for mutton, and cross merinos Avith Cotswolds 

 for wool. A great many owners say the French merino 

 is greatly to be preferred to the Spanish merino for 

 breeding in this country. The Cotswold cross with the 

 merino gives a large-bodied sheep, and a good quality 

 of wool. The cross between the Mexican sheep and 

 merino does not materially increase the size of the 

 sheep, but the wool is good. A lot of Mexican ewes 

 can be had at Denver, Cheyenne, or Pueblo for $2 per 

 head, but they are valuable only for starting a herd. 

 These ewes are very prolific, but they are small, their 

 wool coarse, and of little val ue. A well-known authority 

 on breeding says : " While I fully concur in the desir- 

 ableness of the cross between the merinos and Cotswolds 

 for hardihood, large fleeces, and good mutton, I will 

 say that the Leicesters are to my view very similar to 

 the Cotswolds, and what is claimed for the latter. in the 

 cross referred to may be equally claimed for the for- 

 mer." The large bodies, good health, fine mutton, 

 rather than wool, is the principal recommendation of 

 the cross between merinos and Cotswolds. To breed 

 up a herd rapidly for profit take the largest Mexican 

 ewes and best Cotswold rams. 



Mr. Merriman, who has his herd about six miles 

 from Colorado Springs, says : " At present I have 



