The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-11-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
Selection of Breeds.


Consequently, in the selection of breeds,
it becomes necessary, not only to select q
breed which is adapted to the soil and
climate, but also with reference to the val
ue of its wool and mutton where it is
reared. If the locality be far from a
market for mutton, the production of very
fine wool or great quantity of long comb
ing wool may be bost profitable, and
mutton secondary consideration. Under
such circumstances the breed, whether
fine or coarse wooled, should oe particular
ly adapted to the soil and food. If the
locality is near good market for NUT
ton, that may be the principal object,
and wool the lesser. In such cases, the
deficiency of the productions of the farm
may be in some measure supplied by pur-
chase, if necessary.
When two breeds of sheep are equally
well formed, the expenditure of food will
be nearly in exact proportion to their
relative size. But as animals which are
well formed, consume less in proportion
to their size than these which are ill.
formed, and are also the hardest and
healthiest, every breeder should careful
ly select we'll formed breed, whether it
be coarse or fine wooled.
As general rule, animals of moderate
size, of any breed, with thriftiness of
habit and hardness of constitution, are
best adapted to most parts of the United
States, and produce the best woods. An
imals of the largest size, Of any breed,
may be more pleasing to the eye, but,
generally speaking, are less hardy, and
less capable of enduring scarcity of food,
from drouth, or other causes, or hard u
sage of any kind; and consequently, to
most persons, are less profitable than
those of medium size.
For the production of fine WOOL the
various breeds of Merino possess all the
qualities which are necessary on dry soils
of medium or inferior quality.
For the production of mutton, or NUT
ton and long wool, on very rich grass
lands, the various improved breeds of
English sheep and their crosses with the
Merino, ale best adapted and with refer
ence to these English breeds, the remarks
of Mr.. Spooner will fully illustrate the
subject, as follows:
"The management and selection of any
breed of sheep, must, after all, become u
matter of pounds, shillings and pence.
The question the farmer has to consider
is, what sheep will, in the long run, return
the most profit /; and this question must be
viewed in strict relation to the manage
ment he will be able to adopt, on the par
ticular farm on which he may be loca-
ted.-It is not, therefore, simple, but
compound question. 1t is not, merely,
which breed will make most flesh and fat,
but which will make it in the shortest
time, and on the least food; which can
bear the weather, or hard keeping, or trav-
elling, or a particular mode of manage
ment, with the greatest impunity. All
these considerations, must enter into the
farmers mind, before he can come to a
sound conclusion. From the want of
making these considerations, many fatal
mistakes have been made, and flock has
been selected, altogether unsuitable to
the soil, and incapable of bearing the
severity of the weather. I
1.-The two breeds which appear as
rivals in their claims on public attention,
are the Nelo Leicesters and the South
Do,0n. 1t cannot be doubted, that as
far as propensity to fatten and early ma
turity are considered, the Leicester will
not only rival, but eclipse all others for
these qualities the form may be justly
considered model, and all other breeds
will possess these qualities in greater or
less degree, in proportion as they pos.
sess the similitude of the form and
points of the Leicester sheep. The South
Down itself will not be an exception to
this rule. For if the improved and neg
lected specimens be compared together, it
will be found that the excelencies of the
former, consist in those points which a.
proximate most to the Leicesters. The
wool, too, is also consideration for its
fleece, from its greater length and weight,
will bring in nearly double that Of the
South Down. When, therefore, the past
ure is very fertile, the Leicester may be
justly regarded the most profitable Of
the pure breeds. Its drawbacks are, the
incapability of the animal for bearing ex.
! I'e' w oaNShihsi oihNihk noiN ~
fact its weaker constitution, and greater
liability to inaammatory disorders.
81 Then again, the mutton is not SC
good as the South Down, which, howev
er, is partly, not wholly owing to the early
period twenty months) at which they are
fit for the butcher, and to the large pro.
portion of tallow in proportion to the
lean. Thus it is not a favorite in th'
London markets. Accordingly, of late
years, the first cross between the Leices
ter and the Down has been produced, in
stead of the Leicester.-And it is conten
ded that this first cross is the mos
profitable sheep that can be fattened
making greater and more rapid progres
than the Down, and better meat than tn
Leicester. But it is better to stop q
the first cross, devoting the produce en-
tirely to the butcher, and preserve tn
stock sheep pure. i
The South Down. or rather the i'm
proved South Down-for there is grea
difference between the two-possesse
most valuable qualities with propensit