The Hickman courier., 1874-02-28
Coarse WoOled Sheep.

The Cotswolds were first introduced
into the United States some forty OF
forty-fve years ago, and something of a
contest for the first position for heavy
fr mes and long wool has ever been
held between this breed, the South
downs and the Leicestershires. The
best grades have come from a cross be-
tween the il icestershires and the Cots
void 8; IN fact the two have bee me so
generally intermixed that it is difficult
to find thoroughbred Cotswold. The
benefit derived IN a cross is in improv-
ing the size of the carcass and making
an earlier maturity of the lambs. The
two improvements are particularly i'm
pOrtant wheresthe flock master designs
his sheep for the meat market. AS to
which are the best for wool and mutton.
the crosses or Sonthdowns, opinions are
pretty equally divided. The South
down ram, coupled with the common
breed eve, where the dam is of good
size, make good lambs for early spring
market, and an excellent quality of NUT
ton F.; it being we'll established fact
that the sire, as general thing, has the
most influence on the length and 0uan-
tity of the wool, and the eve on the de-
velopm Mt of the frame. It is impor-
tant, when any cross is made, to have
the dam of good health, strength and
size. Where cross is made between a
ram of long and rapidly growing wool
and eve of very short, unhealthy
growth the result is not favorable either
in the fleece or carcass. The uniform
ity of the size of frames and quaeity of
fleece of cross breeds may be sustained
by strict conformity to certain rules.
The idea that either fLe or coarse wool
are the most p-ofi able to raise as a
whole, is simply foolish, for the matter
IS entirely controlled by the supply and
demand. The war created demand
'or coarse woods, and excitement ran
nigh for few years respecting this !
5rade. Manufacturers claimed they |
,ould not get enough combing wool, and |
here was too much fine merino fleece
N the market, and the reverse which
armers made has reversed the market,
nd to- day the demand is the stronger
or fine wool Some of the wool-grow-
RS have experimental on the cost of
eeping fine and long -wooled sheep, and
ave not y,Soe the result strikingly in
.vor f,f slsA NzzsiIe the Cotswolds
i'll consur.za a little more hay, they re-
uire less .-ss'n to keep them in good
d prlng winter than Merinos.
he formerasc 5 not subject to foot rot,
at suffer naore from head diseases. A
of Merinos will yield more
- ls.>Eool, but the combing fleece
III "e' e1sS snore per pound, but when
he sheep are taken to the shambles the
'ore makes a decided turn in favor of :
le heavy DO led sheep-Cotswold, Lei
sstershire or Southdown. Heretofore
has been generally believed that Cots
Old and Merino sheep could not be
'ossed with profit; for the reason there
such a marked difference in general
such diversity in
ngth of wool and the size of frame, q
Id doubtless that opinion is gerry I
'ariy correct however, crosses 4lave C
zen made with good results. In one r r
stance where the crosses have been
ade, Cotswold ram has been coupled
tn Merino ewes, and such a selection
ade of the latter as are specious,
'ong, and producers of a lengthy and =
pId growth of fleece. That profita-
g returns could be made from an at 2
not to bring up a degenerated flock a.
Merinos by crossing with Cotswold, sa 81
extremely doubtful. Where good :,
'ss is made a quality of wool, COM puii
ing delaine, is produced which is a
y desirable and always marketable.
irat South ,7aer. "