of different Breeds of Sheep. 
57 
would seem, that the cross-hred ewes have given somewhat the 
best account of the food which they have consumed. 
Table VI. shows the amounts of the foods consumed per head 
per week. But as the allowance of the dri/ foods (until it was 
increased during the last period of the experiment) was allotted 
in fixed quantity in relation to the weights of the animals at the 
beginning, the variation in their amounts during the first four 
periods indicates nothing more than the variation in the original 
weights of the different lots of sheep. However, we see, that 
the average consumption per head of swedes, which were given 
ad libitum, varies among tlie three lots as nearly as possible in 
the same ratio as that of the other foods ; and hence, it would 
appear, that in relation to the weights of the animals, the re- 
quirements of food are the same for the three lots. This point 
is better seen in Table VII. 
In Table VII., we have the average weekly consumption of 
food per 100 lbs. live weiglit of animal, instead of per head. The 
figures in this Table sliow that the cross-bred wethers consumed 
rather the most of each of the three foods in relation to their 
average weight throughout the experiment. The cross-bred 
ewes were the next in order in this respect, whilst the Leicesters 
consumed the least. Since, however, we have seen in Table V. 
that the cross-bred ewes gave if anything a somewhat better rate 
of increase in relation to food consumed than the Leicesters, the 
slightly larger consumption by them in relation to weight within 
a given time is at any rate no disadvantage. 
In Table VIII. we have the average weekly increase per head. 
With great fluctuation in this respect between the three lots at 
every separate period of weighing, there is comparatively little 
difference taking the average of the whole period. We would 
here, however, fix attention upon the fact that in these experi- 
ments with 40 sheep of good quality in each lot, fed under 
cover — the experiment extending over 20 weeks, and with food 
certainly superior to that wliich is frequently given to fatting 
sheep — we have with neither lot an average weekly gain in weight 
of 2i lbs. per head. We refer to this point particularly, as a fur- 
ther proof of the over-estimations which are frequently founded 
upon experiments conducted on a comparatively limited scale. 
In Table IX. we have the average weekly gain per cent., that 
is, per lOOlbs. live weight of animal, instead oi per head. We see 
here, that with neither lot of sheep is there an average gain of 
2 per cent, per week upon the live weight. Both the lots of 
cross-breds gave a somewhat higher rate of increase, in propor- 
tion to their weight, than the Leicesters : the amounts being, for 
the cross-bred wethers 1 lb. 14^ ozs. ; for the cross-bred ewes 
1 lb. 14 ozs. ; and for the Leicesters 1 lb, 12| ozs. 
