52 Experiments on the Comparative Fattening Qualities 
A glance at these Tables shows very great irregularity in the 
apparent rate of increase of the same sheep during different 
periods, and also of different sheep during one and the same 
period. This general result we have shown to be very marked 
in all our feeding experiments. The variation in the total 
increase per head, among each lot, is also very great ; but this 
irregularity, from whatever cause, is obviously much greater 
among the Leicesters than the cross-breds. It may be due to 
the decidedly greater irregularity in weight of the Leicester 
lambs when first put up ; but whether this variableness in rate 
of increase is really more usual among the lambs of the pure 
breed than of the cross-breds, or whether it is only due in the 
present instance to the Leicesters having been drawn from several 
flocks, and the cross-breds carefully selected from one, we have 
not the means of deciding. At any rate however, in the case of 
our experiment, a given weight of either of the cross-bred lots 
gave a greater average proportion of increase than the Leicesters. 
The variation in average weehhj increase per head, is seen to be — 
among the 40 Leicesters, from 1 lb. 3 ozs. to 3 lbs. 5 ozs. ; 
among the 40 cross-bred wethers, from 1 lb. 11 ozs. to 2 lbs. 
13 ozs. ; and among the 40 cross-bred ewes, from 1 lb. 7 ozs. to 
3 lbs. That the state of the weather was not without some influ- 
ence upon the variable rate of increase throughout the different 
monthly periods, would appear from the fact, that all the three lots 
gave a considerably less amountof increase during the second period 
— the unusually cold month of January — than at any other time. 
These few observations upon the three Tables which show the 
detailed progress of each sheep, are sufficient again to show the 
absolute necessity of operating upon large numbers of animals, 
and extending our experiments over a considerable period of 
time, if we would attempt to draw trustworthy conclusions from 
comparative feeding experiments. 
In the six following Tables are given, for each lot of sheep re- 
spectively (Leicesters, cross-bred wethers, and cross-bred ewes) : — 
In Table IV. The total foods consumed, and total increase in 
live-weight produced, by each lot of 40 sheep, between each 
weighing (monthly periods). 
In Table V. The quantities of the foods consumed during 
each separate period, and the total period of the experiment, to 
produce 100 lbs. increase in live weight. 
In Table VI. The amounts of foods consumed j)er head loeeldy. 
In Table VII. The amounts of the foods consumed per 100 lbs. 
live toeight icechlg. 
In Table VIII. The average increase in weight per head weekly. 
In Table IX. The average increase upon each 100 lbs. live- 
iccight iceekhj. 
