Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-11-09
TmE DIrFErENr KINps on Suyrp


InE DgfFEFENr KINDS or SHREP.
-L0HgW0VlS uS, MeyiNOS,--A cor.
respondents of tho PIairle Farmer
thus roinpares the Merino sheep
with the Longwools so generally in
favor in Cannda, Since the depand
fur coming wool aud the increased
demand for mutton, tho raising OF
the ColsYold aud Leicester sheep
has become very profitable, but
owing 10 the high tariff and tho ex
change Of currency, there have boen
but very few breeding animals i'm
ported, And perhaps there may
be doubt in tho minds of some,
whether or not the Merinos are the
most profitable after all, thinking
that il costs much moro to keep the
Longw ools, ] have both the Mcr-
nos and Cotswolds, and will givo
lho-rrsmtofmy experience and Oh
servation in regard to tho habits
and relative value OF the two classes
Of sheep, ..... ....
The Mcrinos herd together moro,
Turn them into u field ofgrass, and
they go en- masse across and around
the field, treading down what they
do not eat, and when they stop to
rest, it is all around TO same shade,
with noses to the ground, breath.
ing the same mir scented with their
own cXcrements. If ... '.f. rr..
Not 50 with the longwools; turr
them into field Of grass, and co
seeks its own place to feed, and
own place to rest, avoiding the i'm:
puritics of thy rest. They will alsa
eat coarser feed lhan the Merinos
oak grubs and burdocli are choice
articles OF food with them. And by
close observation ! think they con,
sumo but little ifany moro feed than
the fine woods. | know this will
surprise many, for most persona
think that animals eat according to
their size, but upoa reflection We
know Of many large horses eating
less than small ones, and small men
eating more than large ones, and
that We can make more pork with
less feed from the Suffolk or Chester
white, than from the old fashioned
"PinteIs.' ...,'....
think, however, that animals
will require food according to the
growth and waste of system, other
things being equal. Thus the oil or
gum in the Mcrino fleece is cloap
waste, as it is all cleansed out be-
fore being made into cloth; this oil
must come from tho food eaten, and
tile amount required to make ono
pound of oil will mako several
pounds Of flesh. ....
Again, this oil is of y cold, clam
my nature, as may be seen by the
most gummy sheep being pinched
up most with cold, requiring still
more feed to keep the system warm;
this waste Of feed to produce oil and
fuel will more than balance tho OK
ira growth of tho other kind of
sheep, which growth makes very
good eating. Besides, these sheep
will stand cold storms In fall and
spring much better than merinos
their long curly wool act as shingles
to carry the water from their bodies,
and an all days rain will not wet
their skin. .... .....L.l ... ....,
AS to their relative value there
can be no doubt but that the bali
ance must fall in favor of the long
woods, for they will produce more
wool per head than the merinoes,
which is worth twenty to twenty
FIVE cents more per pound than fine
wool, They will also produce more
and better mutton than the meri-
noes, and at much less expense
Again, they are more prolific and
better mothers. The increase of
flock is much greater than common
sheep.