106 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
and to preserve their dark color. They are managed 
with great skill by the shepherd, and under admirable 
arrangements, but are not pampered in respect to 
feed. 
Crossing. 
Crossing or intermixing different breeds, or differ- 
ent varieties of the same breed, has been dabbled in 
by everybody. 
The French attempted the first, and proclaimed to 
the world that the produce of the fourth cross be- 
tween the Merino and coarse sheep (breeding towards 
the Merino) was as good a wool-bearing sheep, and 
as valuable for breeding purposes as the full blood 
Merino.* 
Dr. Parry, of England, tried two or three crosses, 
and with the bustling ofliciousness and absurd as- 
surance of a new beginner, filled the agricultural pub- 
lications of England with statements that he had al- 
ready surpassed the pure Merino wool in quality, and 
had actually injured the produce of his grade ewes 
* Mr. Livingston says: “ Having mentioned Dr. Parry’s concur- 
rence with the French agriculturists in the opinion that the breed is 
completely changed in the fourth generation, 1 should add,’ &c.” (Es- 
say, p.133) * * * “The French agriculturists say that how- 
ever course the fleece of the parent ewe may have been, the progeny 
in the fourth generation will not show it.” (Page 133.) * * #* 
‘“‘Tt is now so well established as not even to admit of the smallest 
doubt, that a Merino in the fourth generation, from even the worst 
wooled ewes, is in every respect equal to the stock of the sire. No 
difference is now made in Hurope in the choice of a ram, whether he is a 
Full blood or fiftcen-sixteenths.” (Page 131.) 
If this last assertion were known to be truc in respect to the breed- 
ing of the French Merino, it would solve some now very puzzling prob- 
lems in regard to that variety. 
