31 
“ As in my former letter I gave you the character of fine-wooled sheeps 
in this I will describe as closely, as lies in my power, the habits, pecu¬ 
liarities and profits of the two kinds I am now breeding. 
“ The Leicesters are large, fine looking, long-wooled sheep, and good 
hardy keepers. The average clip per head of this breed is about five 
pounds. Their wool is mostly used for combing purposes, as none but 
long staple will answer for this end. From this are manufactured 
Delaines and cloths of a similar texture, and the increased market for 
such goods has caused the supply of long wool in the United States to 
fall short of the demand. The consequence is, that it is eagerly sought 
after, and although coarse, has, I think, during the past year, been 
quoted in the Eastern markets as high as one-half and three-quarters 
blood Merino. 
The wethers at three years old, with good keeping, will furnish per 
head, on an average, from eighty to one hundred and ten pounds of 
mutton—often more. I saw one last fall, the property of E. L. Barlow, 
that weighed on foot 326 lbs. This weight would give 200 lbs.* dressed 
meat. I have never weighed any of mine, except a buck lamb whose 
weight last spring when 85 days old, w T as 75 lbs. At the age of three 
or four years their carcasses are undoubtedly heavier than those of any 
other kind of sheep. This breed, more than any other I have ever kept, 
requires good shelter in the winter, as their wool is long, thin, and free 
from oil, and consequently easily cut, and the fleece once saturated, from 
its length, requires a long time to dry. 
“The average weight per head of the clip of a good South Down flock 
is about four lbs. This breed will keep in good condition on a less amount 
of food than any other sheep I have ever kept. They are very prolific, full 
half of my ewes as stated above, bringing in twins. The offspring are 
very hardy, and I can say that I have never lost a young South Down 
lamb. The ewes are great milkers and exceedingly fond of their young. 
With good feed, they will bring two lambs to a condition fit for the 
butcher in four months. In June last, I weighed a South Down lamb, 
85 days old. His weight on foot was 79 lbs—two pounds more than the 
Leciester I mentioned above, and his carcass I think would have exceed¬ 
ed the proportioned difference in weight, as he was fatter and better ma¬ 
tured. When six months old my single South Downs will average ninety 
