FIXITY OF TYPE IN THE BREED OF SHEEP. 517 
are purchased at a great cost of time and money. In fact, if 
one wishes to procure a breed of sheep such as is now wanted, 
good for the butcher, of early maturity, with power of laying 
on fat, above all hardy and economical, one is daunted by the 
length of time required for such an operation, if it is to be 
effected by gradually improving one of our native races 
through selection, food, and management. One turns from 
such an undertaking to what seems the easier road of cross- 
ing. For this purpose one looks naturally to the English 
breed, because they alone in the world possess the qualities 
sought for. We cross therefore our French ewes, suppose 
with the English race earliest known in France, the Leices- 
ters, and obtain lambs showing little improvement. Disap- 
pointed we turn to a fresh breed, the New Kents, of recog- 
nised excellence. We obtain a degree of improvement more 
perceptible yet insufficient. Discouraged by these trials in 
■which years have been wasted, tempted almost to despair, one 
hears of another breed, the Southdowns, as a race hardier and 
smaller than the other two, and therefore apparently better 
suited to French farming. One makes this last effort, which 
answers worse than the others ; for if the Southdown rams 
exert an influence in the cross as strong as that of the New 
Kents, and rather stronger than that of the Leicesters, the 
effects are less advantageous, inasmuch as these rams are 
inferior in shape and in wool. 
I must here remark, that in France we are in error re- 
specting the Southdown breed. These animals are smaller 
than the Leicesters and New Kents, and therefore more 
easily satisfied. They are at home upon short pastures, and 
thrive where other breeds would perish. This quality seems 
invaluable to the French farmer, who is accustomed to culti- 
vate no crop (either grasses or roots) for his sheep, and hopes 
to find an animal that will live and even fatten on nothing. 
An animal therefore which, as he hears, lives in England on 
the bare and parched heights of the downs, seems to him 
much likelier for his purpose than those balls of fat and of 
wool which roll lazily as they fatten in the rich valleys of 
Kent or Leicestershire. He would be right if any pure 
English race could thrive in France, but of this experience 
has shown the impossibility. 
This fact being established, we can consider English breeds 
only with a view to crossing. Now 7 as in crossing one gains 
but in part the good qualities of the sire, w r e require, if the 
improvement be sought from the sire, that he be of the most 
perfect type, that so his influence may be greater, but his 
influence will be the less both on shape and on v 7 ool in pro- 
