The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-05-22
Agricultural.
Breeds Of Sheep.

A eorresspoodeGi Of the National
Live Stock Journal expressed wish TO
see "a fall and fair description OF the
Cotsvold, leicester and Lincoln sheep"
vhereuyoa the Journal proceeds as !nl-
lows +:
TIE Le;oesiegs Gra usually placed At
the head Of the lo1g.Hool breeds, =
being the fines; II form and Aeaee, and
also because il has been largely used
II crossing, Il. the izproVe-e1; @.
other varieties.
TIE head Is houless, and rather long
a1i narrow ears ;air, nth spots @!
blush ting Tie long, vel cli e.r o.!
the L4Se,er, With ~ sp-irht!y blck.
ward i-ell-at.a-. j 3 distinguishing
Characteristic O! the breei, as IS also
the fall pr5-izel; eye, with gu:e; ard
lively expression. The face and fore
head mus; lie bare Of zo2l, though COW
e,7I v.,l a 4le coat Of aAr-TL,e,
With q ..:;,e inclination 10 til b.l.s-
;.ll
Tie body straight, Wiz limbs yell
sprung ali barrelsLapel he Pe.t in
c..zel 20 BE- 'Lia tie =,o! exceedingly
s1!-. aas aalllst:5ls, 2ai should D.
inform ores tie carcass.
Tie er,-a-5,.e-a1zzle a2l ler-
AZ e~1>zlingly fae. bat The quarters
are !ll! AMI v.dy, with back broad and
lcyel. Indeed, the carcass Of the tru
Leicester sheep e a. near perfection in
form as can De conceived possible.
The Cg,svo,I. though Of late years
modified by the crosses Of the Leicester
blood, and therefore, strongly reseE-
bling tina: breed, is somewhat oOar@r
aud .Juger!l carcass with heavier
heeoe, which should be as lustEols,
though Do; 50 fine as the Leicester.
The head j. larger, and mus. have q
tu!t Of wool on the torehssd, which the
Leicester never Las.
Tie Lincoln j. as large as the Cots
wy.i, though IN other respects, as now
bred, very strongly resembling the Lei
ces,er. The head is long, the face mar
row and bare II wool. with white fine
hair and light blush tint as IN the Lei
ces,er. They stand rather highe. on
the ~ than the two varieties before
mentioned, and the carcass is apt to be
less symmetrical, but'the fleece IS long
er and heavier, aud though not quite 80
fine as the Leicester, is unsurpassed IL
lustre, and therefore commands the
bes, prices in the markets.
1t is difficult TO describe animals 70
as TO enable Z person to determine the
pure bred from the mongrcl indeed,
the best judges are not always able to
detect the presence of a slight dash Of
inferior blood.
One thing the producer may rely upon
that long-wool sheeppeddled aboutth
country at low prices are never pure
bred. Indeed, blooded stock Of all
sorts should be purchased Of partie,
that are known as reputable breeders
this Is the only reliable security tina,
the purchaser can have tbs, the animal
purchased will turn u VITA, it is rep
resented to be.
The Sou,hdown sheep has a broad,
rather short, though exceedingly nea,
head forehead covered with wool, and
the face and legs with grey or brown
hair. The fleece is rather short, Of
good felting quality, equal to half.
blood Merino, but superior for flannel.
etc. and should he solid and compact.
and Of uniform quality throughout,
without projecting hairs.
The carcass should be straight, with
well sprung ribs, and broad level back.
having wide quarters. deep flank and
well-packei twist. This being held in
higher esteem than any other breed fox
the production Of superior mutton, the
full and perfect development of car.
ass is deemed of the highes, import
auce.
The Hampshire Downs ore coarser in
form and fleece, with black face and
legs.
The Shropshire Downs are a cross
between the S0uthdowns and long
Fools-a large breed, with long coarse
wool, in form resembling the Cotswold,
with black faces and legs.
IL regard T. this matter Of the color
Of the faces and the legs, j, il remarka-
bic that while the Sogthiogns, which
stand a; the head Of all these varieties,
have, As before observed, brown OF grey
colors in these ~par,s-their crosses on
other breeds will frequently sboz black
faces and legs.
When the object is to keep a small
flock for mutton, rams Of this variety
are found to be exceedingly profitable
to cross on ewes of almost any other
breed But the nearer they go to the
pure blood. the better the mutton.
Hoven or Bloat in Cattle.
As this is the season when danger 10