The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-13

England. il IS said, are as old a. the
hills they inhabit; Notwithstanding
this. il is a well-cstablished fact.
that the modern Cotswold i very
much improved By crossing. aud
are now much superior to the Org
inal neglected dwartish animal that
formerly inhabited those wolds.
Next | speak Of the
SoUTHDOwN
Also natives OF England; the
range Of chalkv hills, called the
Downs. and from whence tbs sheep
derived its name:ur III Sussex anti
other counties of England. | find
no very early authentic record Of
this breed, until John Gilman OF
Glynde. England. turned his atten-
ton 10 their Improvement IN the
wear 1880, and during q residence
at Glynde OF 30 years. by close at
tention and continued perseverance
in the weli-known principles OF
breeding, brought his flock to Il
high state OF perfection. He de-
scribes the SouthGowns being the
best in England. The Duke Of
Richmond, Jonas Webb, and other
successors of Gilman, have with Va
ried results but continued progress
sion carried forward tie work OF
Improvement till Jonas Webb be-
came the champion OF ~Southdown
sheep in England, and sold many
fine animals, which were brought
to this country BY Samuel Thorn,
Col. l.. G. Morris and others OF
New York, and more recently by
Col. J. c. Taylor OF New Jersey.
who imported from Webs flock
three different times, aud One OF
the very best Of his flock, at Il cost
Of $1,000 fora single sheep. Nlthn
the last so or 30 years the improved
Southdowns have also been sent
into Scotland, Ireland, Germany,
Russia, France, SPAN. Portugal
and the West Indies. and ii IS c.
traordinary that they do 81 wei
in climates 50 different: they bear
we'll both heat AID cold, which
make them well adapted to al parts
of oul country. from Maine 10
Florida. and their facilities for
taking on fat with small conSump-
ton Of food. Their early maturity.
quiet disposition, and the very su-
| perior mutton they furnish, make
them a very desirable breed OF
sheep, particularly where mutton
is quite an object, and this should
be an object with all farmers living
within reasonable distance Of large
cities or towns. | have successful
" kept the Southdowns for more
than forty years. have crossed with
nearly all the best tlocks Of this
country, and have q fine imported
centennial buck in my flock. |
might here speak of the weights of
some of the above described sheep:
a few years ago, a few were fed up
for New York market, to the great
weight of 2lO pound5 for Lelcesters,
geo pounds for Il lot Of SoutldoWnS
each. 800 pounds each for a lot Of
CotswoldS. and q lot Of Canada
Sheep 900 pounds each, all dressed
weight.
For fine wool sheep.
SPANISH, FRENCH AND SILISIAN
MEItINOS,
having been brought to this coun-
try considerable Improvement IS
said to have made on these breeds
in Vermont, whore much attention
is paid to this branch Of husband
~. The N~crmonters obtain bic
prices for some Of their choice
fine-woolea animals. from Western
wool-growers. Up to few years
from $50 to 5000 was no unusual
price for a single sheep Of the
heavy-heeccd Spanish or French
Merino. Fine wool has heretofore
been the rage, il fine enough.
Years ago : or pounds to the
sheep was considered a satisfactory
Weld, an. this for some time was
thought to be about as much rs
could be produced, unless by re-
sorting to cOarScr-wooled animals.
Improved Spanish Merinos WELD
from S to 10 pounds average, and
French Merlnos from Il to Is
pounds. and some ever to24 pounds:
and IN California. where big things
grow We read OF = pounds from
one sheep at one shearing.
Now one might suppose that if
mutton sheep en- (near our Eastern
markets. be made t dress from
200 to 800 pounds Of COOL mutton
to the sheep, and tine-wool shecpin
our Western States be made to pro-
duce 10 to - pounds wool to the
sheep, enough would soon go into
the sheep business TO prevent the