SHEEP, DIFFERENT BREEDS. 
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importations, and now stand in the West, in the front rank of long- 
wooled sheep. 
This is one of the largest English breeds, though the improved race is 
smaller than the originals, on account of the influence of the Leicester 
element in its amelioration. As a breed, it is of great antiquity. It has 
gained in fleece and form, and comes to maturity earlier ; is more prolific 
than the Leicester, and has greater strength of constitution ; is often fat-' 
tencd at fourteen months, yielding fifteen to twenty pounds of mutton 
per quarter, and twenty to thirty, if kept till two years old. They have 
a large head, but well set on, a broad chest, a well-rounded barrel, and a 
straight back. They are often used for crossing upon other breeds, and 
for obtaining earlier market-lambs, both in this country and in Europe. 
They are more widely disseminated in this country than any other long- 
wooled breed, and preserve well the popularity which they have attained 
here. Some imported sheep of this breed have borne fleeces in this 
country of eighteen pounds. A great weight when we remember that the 
wool shrinks comparatively little in washing. 
SHEARED COTSWOLD RAM. 
The Cotswolds have been extensively crossed with Leicester sheep iw 
England, by which their size has been somewhat diminished, but their 
carcass notably improved, and in addition, earlier maturity has been 
attained. The wool is strong, mellow and of good color, though rather 
coarse, 6 to 8 inches in length, and from 7 to 8 pounds per fleece. 
Good Qualities of Cotswolds. 
The superior hardihood of the improved Cotswold over the Leicester, 
