3 % THE CULTIVATOR. Dec. 
FAT-TAILED SHEEP.—Fig. 107. 
On page 88 of the current volume, we gave a cut of 
a variety of the fat-rumped sheep, which are found in 
various parts of Asia and Africa. In some parts of those 
countries, there are found, also, several breeds commonly 
known as fat, or broad-tailed sheep. They bear more 
or less resemblance to the fat-rumped, and some of 
them may be considered as having been originally de¬ 
rived from that variety; the variation having at first 
been only accidental, perhaps, and perpetuated by acci¬ 
dent or design. There is considerable variation in the 
position and quantity of this singular fatty substance. 
Mr. Yotjatt, [treatise on sheep, pp. 113, 114,] ob¬ 
serves:—“In some, as in the sheep of Syria, it accumu¬ 
lates about the upper part of the tail. Others have too 
large lobes of fat at the sides of the tail, reaching as 
low as the hocks. In a third variety, the masses of fat 
not only extend to, but chiefly occupy the inferior part 
of the tail, which is naked, and almost flesh-colored. 
Sheep of one or the other of these varieties, extend 
over Syria, Egypt, Southern Africa, Russia, India, and 
China.” 
The proportion which the weight of the tail in some 
of these sheep bears to the whole carcass, is quite re¬ 
markable. The usual dressed weight of the sheep, is 
from 50 to 60 lbs., of which the tail is said to make 15 
or 16 lbs. Some of the largest sheep, which have been 
fattened with great care, are said to weigh 150 lbs., the 
tail making one-third of the whole weight. The tail is 
described as being composed of a substance between 
marrow and fat, serving very often, in the countries to 
which the animal belongs, instead of butter, and is used 
as an ingredient in various dishes. While the animal is 
young it is deemed to be little inferior to marrow. 
Mr. Youatt gives an extract from Russell’s History 
of Aleppo, in which it is stated that the sheep of the 
largest size are “ kept up in yards, so as to be in 
little danger of hurting their tails as they walkabout; but 
in the fields, in order to prevent injury from the bushes, 
the shepherds in several places of Syria, fix a thin 
piece of board to the under part, which is not like the 
rest, covered with wool, and to this board are some¬ 
times added small wheels; whence, with a little exag¬ 
geration, we have the story of the oriental sheep being 
under the necessity of having carts to carry their tails. 
But the necessity of carriages for the tails of the African 
sheep, mentioned by Herodotus, Rudolphus and others, is 
real. The tail of that animal, when fat, actually trails, 
not being tucked up like those of the Syrian sheep.” 
The above cut was originally taken from a ram be¬ 
longing to the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris. Sheep of 
this, or a similar variety, have been at various times 
imported to different parts of the United States. Stock 
produced by a cross of them with the common sheep, 
mature early, and are thought to have an increased ten¬ 
dency to fatten. This cross-bred stock was in conside¬ 
rable repute near Philadelphia, some years since, as 
early lambs for market. We have been told, however, 
that they are not as much esteemed at a more mature 
age, or for mutton . Butchers have objected that their 
fat is too much on the posterior part of the carcass, 
leaving the kidneys and other parts nearly destitute of 
any. 
LARG-E AND SMALL ANIMALS. 
The opinion that animals of the same species con¬ 
sume food always in proportion to their weight, we 
believe to be an injurious error; we say injurious , be¬ 
cause we think it operates as a barrier to improvement 
in many cases. We find some good remarks on this 
point in an essaj’’ on cattle, published in the Journal of 
the Royal Agricultural Society. The writer says— 
“ That animals do not increase in weight in exact 
proportion to the food they consume, has been fre¬ 
quently proved. The writer had at the same period, 
three cows recently calved, which for convenience of 
milking, were all kept in the same cow-house; they 
were fed with straw and as many turneps as they could 
eat; the average weight through the year was 80 stones, 
(1,120 lbs.,) 70 stones, (980 lbs.,) and 60 stones, (840 
lbs.) The 80 stones cow and the 70 stones cow gave 
an equal quantity of milk; but that of the large cow 
was of better quality; the 60 stones cow gave more 
milk and of better quality than either of the two 
larger cows; the 80 stones cow and the 60 stones cow 
consumed an equal quantity of turneps; but the 70 
stones cow ate one-fourth more than either of the others . 
The 80 stones cow was a fine animal, with great incli¬ 
nation to fatten.” 
Humbug. —A paragraph is going the “rounds” 
stating that there has been a “ new kind of corn from 
the Rocky Mountains,” grown near Albany the past 
season. A wonderful singularity about it is, that “ each 
kernel is enveloped in a husk!” We suppose some one 
started this account of the strange production who 
did not know that it had been grown in various parts 
of the country for twenty years. 
