The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-02-10
Fram the Northwestern Farmer.
COlsWOld SHEEP,

family or breed known by this name at
tain the largest sizc and greatest weight
of any Of tho numerous families Of do
mesticated sheep and unlike most large
animals--as the Improved Shorthora
cattle for instance they arc not tender
nor more susceptible to the influences
Of disease than the race in general
This must be ascribcd to good constitu
tional vitality Of course; and this excel
lencc of constitution does not exist with
out adequate caAse. Having, when in
England few years since, travelled over
the "Wolds" whore they principally
bred in tLe;rgreatest excellence by Hew-
CT, and numerous other shecpmcn,
will attempt to show what is principal
cause Of this trait, SO unusual in la:gc
animals.
The Woles" are high table land,
or slightly unaulating, but very opea !:
and extending from Bristol and Bath by
WY Of Painswick, Littledon Northbock
where the great sheep sales are held
annually; and on northeast to Morcton
in the Marth, &c This tract is so much
exposed that hedges lave not been
grown on a large and the most exposed
part Of it, to this day; the fences being
stone walls 1t is very poorly supplied
with watcr--for England which circum.
stances probably led to breeding sheep
there on SO large scale, requiring as
they do, comparatively little water when
fed most e the year with greater or
less proportion Of roots or other green
food. The great exposure they we've
therefore subject to, rendered the use of
"co:s'-liyht movable sheep houses
for shelter against wind and rain indis-
pensablc. Hence the name Of Scots
Void" from cots for shelter in the
: Wold,' or exposed open country.
The exposure of men or animals to
generally cool, ard frequently renewed
atmosphere at high attitudes, invariably
gives the greatest health or constitution
al yisor, to such as are thus Injured
to the bracins influence of such cond
tions; and this j assign as the reason Of
the good constitution the "Cotswold"
certainly possesses; and another and a
most important collateral consequence
Of their originating in such exposure is,
that they are not hard to keep. Though
they require quantitity Of food in pro-
portion to their size they are not mine
ing an fastidious like, Improved Short
horn CATTLE" but thrive we'll On good,
ordinary feed when supplied in abund
ance. This is very important as other
wise, they would not be adapted to con-
venience cf,ordinary farmers, who can
not afford the hot house or forcing sys-
tenn Of feeding. A
Formerly this breed was triAe too
light in the fore quarters; but within
the last twenty years, they have widcncd
and deepcned, till now they are we'll pro
portonei and fixed in character. Their
wool is from five to ten inches long and
they give fleece ranging from seven to
ten, and even more pounds il weight.
They are sure breeders with very rare
exceptions as sure as any other breed
soevcr; and frequently produce twins or
couples; though not SO frequently per.
haps as the Southdowns. But they
are crcellent mothers, which, with sheep.
means good mixers; consequently very
few lambs arc, and none need be lost
from want Of milk. They have no wool
below the knee and hook, and only a
"top knot on the forehead. The face
is long, clean and thin, and the form.
like that Of the Shorthorns,. broad and
nearly straight on the top, with the
breast bone projecting more than in
sheep generally. There arc 50 many
points Of analogy between tho Scots.
wolds' and" Improved Shorthorns, that
i must notice one or two more. These
sheep are snowy and imposing in form
and appearance. This renders them sal
able, when with precisely as good quail
ties without such appearance they would
not be 90 readily disposed Of
Their mutton, like Shorthorn beef. Is