Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-08-25
AGRICULTURAL.
New Leicester Sheep.

In IT'S, Robert Bakewell. of Dishlev,
Leicestershire, England, began the inn |
provemeut Of his flock of sheep. or his /
modas operdadi Blackwell left his i'm |
mediate successors in the dark, he keep |
ing himself alnof from the arena oe pub !
lie discussion. So closely was the veil |
OF secrecy tn own over his proceedings
that his servants. with one exception.
were ignorant thereof. Though we are
Ignorant OF Bakewell's method o. doing
his work. Yet are we satisfied that 1t was
from know Wedge and combination of
blood affinities of different races Of sheep
as famous among ocines rs Short Horns
are among bOriaes.
Although the carcass Of the New Lei
cester falls considerably below that o.
Its predecessors, the long woods, in
weight, Yet unless the discrepancy is
very great indeed, the mere circum-
stance OF weight and bulk ought never
OF itself to determine the comparative
value OF different breeds. When the
much earlier age a which the tatteuing
process is completed. the greater rapid
iIy with which il is carried ON, and the
smaller quantity Of food required to ell
feet this, coupled with the beautiful
symmetry ana fine handling OF the New
Leicester are taken into account and
compared with most other breeds of the
long-wooled class, il rarely fails TO bear
the palm, and-what is oil much greater
impo. taBce,-ii will he found TO leave
the grea' er profit TO the feeder.
The mutton of the New Leicester.
when not over fed. is OF superior de-
scription, the fat and lean being more
equally distributed than ia most other
heavy breeds. while the flavor is con>id-
cred little interior TO any. With the
butcher the Leicester has ever been
general favorilc, from its containing a
small amount OF offal compared with The
size oi The animal, while even this de-
creases in the same ratio rs the animal
becomes over-ieG. The average weight
OF 22-month old Leicester wether MAY
be stated al from 80 TO loo lbs. net OF
course much heavier weights are fire.
qucntly obtained. and specimens of
Older animals have occasionally been
exhibited weighing nearly 800 lbs.
1hese, however, are rare exceptions.
The average weight oi Leicester wool
may be stated AT about lbs. or 5 los.
per fleece; instances are occasionally
occurring OF much heavier fleeces.
BaAeweIl's sheep are distinguished by
their general parallclogramic outlines !:
the small head covered with short.
white hair; the open counlenance and
clear muzzle the Iuil. yet quiei exc. and
long, thin, well placed ear; the iull but
tapering neck, aud deep, wide chest I:
the uniform broad and straight, firm
back, terminating in the square rump,
ami iull, deep shoulder; the we'll arched
rio. iuil plate and light offil: the long
fulI quater, well turned twist, aud UNI
formll nne bon. the thin, soft. elastic
pei, and mellow handling. While re-
tanning these valuable qualities as the
basis of their operations, succeeding
breeders discovered that o. hers might
be communicated, by which the value
oi then fiochs would be enhanced, and
The general y mmeirN rather augmented
than dIn.lbIshed. Hence. among other
things. The general enlargement OF car
cars; tie < eailk increased covering ot
NooI-quaiiiie>. indeed. which bake
well seems rather 10 have ,hunned-as
well a the greater ierIiiing and better
milking properties oil the eve; though
the ialieI inak be traced rather 10 Ia. IA
and-ln breeding. Than to any inherent
Gticci ia his sDcep a. a breed. 1 he.c.
ANA sonie other minor Changes. have
eoiheA Hal altered ttc appear .iict OF ihc
lt.ce-ieIs vi oui daA though The tastes
Anu capilc ga indIt ldual Di ccdIay vail
hot MAU.I, account luI man, cliaI &c, eI-
lsiIc> oU>,ItaDie ia different di>Iuct,
Ae great value oI lne breed. consist
ilig IN READY disposition 10 iaitcn. OF
Ia othtr woIus, 10 alIlte al RiatuiltA at
ali carly age, II l. eyiient dat tlie Kind
oi treatment required viii he such a.
VIII most teaulit conduce 10 this end.
WIN the exception OF ewes and rams,
hone are Aepi un,il they are more Imam
Two Years old, " hist the piaciiee-,iaIl,
btcoinlhg mole cuu.uIoL-w in most
bIeouers, l. 10 have them ieadS Tor the
Ia chez al 10 OF 10 months o.d. or Iui-
lheuiatelt after being ehorn. To be
aOle 10 attain This, IL i, necessary that
the! should be Well led from the time
the. are dropped.
La TeIeiehcc 10 the locality best adapt
ed Tor LieccsIers; the country in which
IL originated, together with iIs coustiiu-
ton and general habits, point al once to
hlghl. iertllIzed or cultivated soil as
Its habitat. Graziers are justified in AT.
tending To the production OF thai article
winch best suits the market. For cross
ing, the New LlecesIers stand uariyel-
ed, and the demand Tor rams for this
purpose III England is almost incredi-
bic, aud ycarl! Increasing.