The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-02-20
Agricultural. g
The old English BEseds Of Sheer.

: The Old English Breeds of Sheep.
The Norfolk sheep were indigenous
In the countries of Norfolk and Suffolk.
The horns were large and spiral the
bodies long; the Ioins narrow with 1
high back and shin chine the legs long.
black or gray They were of a wild
rowing disposition, and not easily CON
fined within any but strong inclosures.
The wool of the original breed was
short, and the fleece weighed from two.
to two and half pounds.
The agile form Of these sheep. sena-l
bling them to move. over a large space
Of ground with little labor, was vast
advantage to the old Norfolk farmers.
many of whom were possessedso Of large
tracts of heathland, which they had no
means of bringing into cultivation ex-
cept by the assistance of the fold. Mr..
Marshall characterizes them, IN his ac-
count of the Norfolk husbandry, as be-
ing singularly well adapted to the soil
and system of management prevalent IN
that country, thriving upon heath and
barren sheep-walks, where nine-tenths
of the breeds in the kingdom would
starve, standing the fold perfectly well.
yet fattening freely at two years old,
| and bearing the journey to distant mar
kets with comparative ease. & Mr.. Kent
in his surveyed the same-eountry, has
been equally warm in their praise vet.
notwithstanding testimonials in their
favor, they have long been giving way
to the Southdown or Sassex-down, ser
Norfolk and Oxford-doBns breeds, and
the old Norfolks are a nearly extinct
race.
The Wiltshire breed were distils-
guished by large spiral horns bending
downwards, close to the head. They
were perfectly white Ia their faces and
legs; and long Roman noses, with large
open nostrils; were wide and heavy IN
the headquarters, and light in the fore
quarter and offal. The quality Of the
fleece was-that of clothing wool or mod
crate fineIiess, averaging nearly three
/. pounds in-weight; and the careasses ,ot
the weathers, when fat, usually weighed
from 20 to 80 pounds. -
Is This breed has now nearly sdisap!
fpeared. If was-first improved by the
SouthdoWns, and it has besnf crossed SC
frequently with that breed, that it be.
come almost a Southdown, or differs
only from the true Southdow11 in its
increased size, lighter color, and fnel
4 fleece
4 The Dorset breed are horned. The
ram has singular long convoluted
horn, and is entirely white. The chest
is deep, and the loins broad Tire wool
of the pure breed is of an ginterme-
diate kind between long aud short,
and of middling fneness, weighing
about four pounds per fleece; and
the carcass averages. eighteen pounds
i per quarter Of excellent mutton. Great
numbers of Southdown sheep have been
introduced into this country, bussin the
-neighborhood of Dorchester the original
fbreed retain their native character.
They are hardy. race, being chiefly
bred on open downs, and Injured to the
field; but their principal value consists
in the peculiar forwardness of the ewes,
who take the ram at an earlier period
than any other species, and are there.
fore much sought for, and command
high prices, for the purpose of produc-
ing house-lamb for winter consu1hp tion.
They Will often fake the ram so early as
April. ..oH - -
There is a variety of the Dorset breed
in Dean Forest, and on the Mendir
Hills. He Is small compact animal
that would thrive on the poorest soil
In both situations, however, and particu
larly on the Mendip Hills, the sheep are
materially changed since the progress:
of Enclosure. The auckland, the Lei
cesters, and the Southdowns, now occu
Ply the greater partiof these once wild
tracts.
These old breeds have now beer
greatly improved, by the introduction
of rams from the different fiocks Of vel
bred sheep, for which Great Britain i.
so famous all over the civilized world
Sheep breeding has always received
more attention in England than in the
1 United States.