The Portland daily press., 1868-12-04

The farmers of Maine can make it piofita-
bic to raise sheep, if they pursue the right
course and procure the best breeds. 1t is true
that the present price of wool is something of
draw back upon this business, but then
lambs and mutton bear good price and that
in some good degree atones for the low price
of the fleece. And now the question arises
with regard to the breeds. Farmers must 90
for improvement in this branch of industry
as well as in all others. If they have common
focks, and are breeding for lambs intended
for the butcher, and not so much for the
feese, it is quite important to select the best
breeds. Some farmers may possibly think it
will not make much difference what kind of
breeds he has if they are especially intended
for the butchers and not for the wool. But
this is a great mistake. A good ram of pure
breed is essential among a common flock, and
the lambs will be more profitable.
But the best course for our Maine farmers
to pursue is to get rid of their common sheep
as fast as they can and not make too much of
sacrifice and supply their places with the
Southdown. The soils and pastures of Maine
are just the thing for this breed. For lamb
and mutton our farmers can raise no breed
so good as the Southdown. And the wool is
by no means to be left out of the account
For elegance OF shape, beauty of features and
the quality of the wool, no breeders are bet
ter than the Southdown. The color of the
face should be brown, neither too dark nor
too light. The legs should also be of the
same color. The Massachusetts Plcughman
says the paunch should be well let down, the
head small, the neck well set on and nicely
blended with the shoulders, buttocks and
shoulders broad and full, the ribs well arched,
the back and loins broad and straight, the
limbs short in proportion to the body, the
face and forehead we'll clothed with short
hair, the wool SOFT to the touch, thick and
coming well forward to the face, but not COW
ering it, the ears should be thin and the eyes
have lively expression.
The above description of handsome
Southdown is quite correct and farmer can
at once see the difference between such an
animal and his common sheep. Large hams
duu dlO hOAC plOuOduiC
long necks and legs, large heads and horns
Sheep of common breeds and poor blood with
their large heads, long necks and slab sides
consume much food but do not grow fat,
while the Sonthdowns always keep fat. The
truth is, they always look just as sheep should
look. When good judge Of forms gazes up
on them he sees nothing lacking. Now if a
farmer has a common breed and cannot con-
veniently dispose OF them, his first duty is TO
procure Southdown ram for his flock, ana
next spring he will see great Improvement
in his lambs. By introducing wen iorineu'
blooded male he will soon greatly improve
his comn,on breeds; for "blood will telP un-
der o,most any circumstances. 1t may cost
so,notbing to procure such male but it will
nav great profit in the end.
,f farmer lives near market and ex-
pects to furnish butcher with lambs and
mutton, let him procure the Southdown,
Cotswold or Lincoln, as these furnish large
bodies, fine, tender meat. and are easily fat
tened. Their wool is also OF good quality
and commands good price. But IT he rais-
es sheep for their feeces then the merlno is
probably the best. A Merino lamb is not
very good eating, but little better than
woodcbuck or a raccooD. A Merino is not fit
to eat until it is four years old and then it is
not as good as Southdown or Cotswold.
We are far behind some other countries in
raising sheep. Saxony, no larger than Con-
necticut or Rhode Island, keeps 3,500,000
sheep, England and Wales 100000 and