310 
On Cross Breeding. 
The black-faced heath breed, too, so well suited to mountainous 
districts in which heath abounds, whilst it has been supplanted 
in certain districts by the Cheviot, has, in other heathy localities, 
displaced the latter. Although very slow in reaching maturity, 
the mutton is much esteemed ; and the lambs, from a first cross 
with the Leicester ram, fatten readily when removed to more 
favourable pasturage than the native habitat of the breed. 
The testimony in favour of the advantages to be derived from 
the cross breeding of sheep when the purpose sought for is 
limited to the first cross is so strong that, however forcible may 
be the arguments of the advocates of pure breeding with reference 
to stock sheep, they sink altogether in weight Avhen sheep for 
the butcher are concerned. We have noticed the advantageous 
custom of crossing the Dorset and Somersetshire ewes with the 
Down ram, thereby improving both the quality and the disposi- 
tion to fatten of the lambs, whilst the early lambing and nursing 
qualities of the ewes are equally secured. 
In Norfolk an intelligent and experienced correspondent assures 
us that cross breeding is of the utmost importance to the light 
land farmers, and that the crosses most esteemed ai'e the South- 
doMm and the Hampshire ewes crossed with the Leicester and 
the Cotswold ram, by which earlier maturity is secured, together 
with an increase both of wool and mutton. 7 he cross between 
two comparatively pure bieeds is most esteemed. Most of the 
graziers in the locality of the writer (Mr. Coleman) speak strongly 
in favour of the first cross, as possessing both early maturity and 
a propensity to fatten. The inconvenience of the system is the 
necessity induced either of selling out every year, or otherwise of 
keeping up a pure flock, in order to afford materials for crossing. 
It may be observed that although generally, for the purposes of 
the butcher, a ram of a large breed is necessary, this is not 
essential when a permanent improvement is sought for : improved 
shape and superior quality often follow the ram of a smaller breed. 
Many owners of sheep, whose flocks were originally cross-bred, 
declaim very forcibly on the evils of crossing and the necessity 
of pure breeding. 
We cannot do better, in concluding our paper, than gather up 
and arrange in a collected form the various points of our subject, 
which appear to be of sufficient importance to be again presented 
to the attention of our readers. We think, therefore, we are 
justified in coming to the conclusions : — 
1st. That there is a direct pecuniary advantage in judicious cross 
breeding ; that increased size, a disposition to fatten, and early 
maturity are thereby induced, 
2nd. That whilst this may be caused for the most part by the 
very fact of crossing, yet it is principally due to the superior 
