Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1851-11-26
Sheep.

The Sheep principally relied upon for wool
suitable for the manufacture of cloths or domes
tic use, are the Saxon, Merino, and South
Downs For the small farmer. the Saxon,
though producing the best wool, has consti-
tuition too delicate, and requires too much at
tention to be profitable. 1t is also rather light,
and the qualities Of form and flesh seem 10
have been in a great degree sacrificed to that
OF superior wool. 1t was at one time supposed
that a breed of sheep might be produced by
skilful crossing and breeding, having the har-
dy constitution and form of the old English
sheep, and the delicate, silky wool of the Sax
ons but after the most persevering efforts it was
abandoned; and that nation is now content to
purchase their fine woods, and rear their own
sheep for inferior wool and for mutton.
Next in the scale is the Spanish Merlno, a
heavier bodied harder sheep, with fine wool,
not equal indeed to the Saxon, but sufficiently
good for the best domestic or supcrfnc cloths.
OF all the improved, or imported breeds, the
Merno is the most extensively ditfused IN this
country, and few focks can be founl in which
more or less Of the blood does not exist \
few locks also Of pure bloodcd Merinoes can
be found, and Notwithstanding the varieties of
new sheep, possessing more or less desirable
properties, that have been introduced, the Me-
rino is gaining ground in public estimation.-
For the small farmer who can keep but few
sheep, and those for the wool, the Merino has
proved valuable sheep.
Inc SOutn DOWN is one OF inc old EngIlSh
varieties of the sheep, produces the finest wool
of any Of their native breeds, is hardy, strong
constitutional animal, adapted to hill lands or
close pastures, and BY the skill and care of the
Ellmans and others has acquired perfection
Of form unknown to the earlier specimens of
the South Downs. BY the connoisseurS Of
mutton, the flesh of the South Down ranks
among the best, and that Of the Saxon the
worst. There many fine specimens of the
South Down in this country, and are inclin-
ed to consider il one OF the most valuable ami
mails vet introduced Its wool is indeed inte.
rior TO the Merno or Saxon, but it has the al
vantage of them in weight. constitution, and
Of keeping, qualities which give il strong
claim on the farmer.
The above will show why we would, Of the
three, wool alone considered, prefer the Ner-
no for the small farmer; and will also in part
disclose the reason why we should select the
Merino and the South Down TO produce flock
from which wool and flesh both were 10 be OBJ
jects Of greater or less importance.
In rearing flock by crossing, various opin
ions have been enterta aimed as 10 the best meth
o., Of proceeding whether the ram or the eve
had the greatest influence the offspring:
whether South Down buck and Merino
ewes; (supposing these varieties selected for
the cross) were to be preferred, or South Down
ewes and Merno buck should be chosen. Once
we might not have considered decision on
this point very essential but we are inclined
now to view it in a very different light and |
were we to undertake the production of flock |
for ourselves would much rather choose the
Merino buck and the South Down ewes, than
the Merino ewes, and South Down ram. In
the former case we think should be much
more certain Of a Merino fleece, and South
Down constitution and carcase, than in the
latter, and that result take 10 be the real
object Of the cross.
Without adopting, or endorsing, all the spec |
al atoms of late writers the subject of breed
ny we think it is fact that the male leaves
his character stamped externally on the off
spring more frequently than the female. The
horse more frequently gives his color to the
colt, the bull his to the calf, and the ram color