216 Method of ohtaining immediate Fixity of Type 



on the spontaneous produce of soils either naturally barren or ill- 

 cultivated. 



Many causes thus naturally led our farmers to crossing with Eng- 

 lish breeds : first, the deplorable state of our old French breeds 

 as to both mutton and wool ; next, the imperfection as butcher's 

 animals of the Merino mongrels which have replaced the old breeds 

 wherever the goodness of the soil and excellence of the forage 

 allowed their introduction. Besides, a certain amount of enlighten- 

 ment had evidently penetrated the minds of our farmers, which we 

 must hope will lead to improvement in the feeding and manage- 

 ment of French sheep. For hitherto these valuable animals have 

 been, and still are on most of our farms, treated as mere outcasts. 

 They are Crowded together without light or air in hovels which 

 are rendered unwholesome by the fermentation of the droppings 

 accumulated under their inmates perhaps for a year. In summer 

 they receive only the natural produce of the soil ; in winter, 

 straw, and that straw often damaged. Even this fodder often does 

 not hold out, and then the flocks have no other resource than to 

 gnaw the heath and shrubs with which the commons are covered, 

 or scratch in the snow to find some blades of withered grass. 

 On this sad but true picture a ray ef light has at last been shed. 

 In many places our farmers begin to perceive the need of im- 

 proved management, and, wherever improvement begins in the 

 management, it is soon found to be also required in the breed. 

 The only merit of the old breeds is that they are not destroyed by 

 such management, but they will not pay for more generous diet. 



For it is a mistake to improve the flock without changing the 

 management. It is an equal mistake to improve the manage- 

 ment without refining the breed. Both should advance together 

 if profit be looked for. 



Still it has been found that our old breeds may be crossed 

 with English blood not only without profit, but with heavy loss. 

 To clear up this matter, it will be worth while to enter into 

 particulars, as the question is interesting, and in general not well 

 understood. 



When an English ram of whatever breed is put to a French ewe, 

 in which term I include the mongrel Merinos, the lambs present 

 the following results. Most of them resemble the mother more 

 than the father ; some show no trace of the father ; a very few 

 represent equally the features of both. Encouraged by the 

 beauty of these last, one preserves carefully the ewe lambs among 

 ,them, and, when they are old enough, puts them to an English 

 rrilh. The products of the second cross, having 75 per cent, of 

 English blood, are generally more like the father than the mother, 

 resembling him in shape and features. The fleece also has an 

 . English character. The lambs thrive, wear a beautiful appear- 

 ance, and complete the joy of the breeder. Fle thinks that he 



