The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-08
FARM AND GARDEN.



footing which this great industry now holds,
has gwen new impetus to sheep husbandry
in this country. Evidences OF activity come
to us from all directions, and inquiries, also,
as to the value of most popular breeds. Our
columns have repeatedly contained articles
upon topics relating to sheep and wool and
our readers will find in them in the future
much matter OF the same character. The
american .Stock'maR is and will be, Il steadfast
friend and advocate of this great industry, and
we invite those who are interested In ii to
make its columns the medium of suggestion,
inquiry and experience, in whatever pertains
to it or will advance its interests. In this con
nectOn we take from an essay read by DR.. l..
f. Brown, before the Kentucky Wool Grow
ers Association, some time ago, some portions
relating to five of the most popular breeds of
sheep:
Flrst-The Merlno is a breed originally
Spanish, but now generally existing over Eu-
rope and the United States and very extern
slvelv in Australia. Merlno wool constitutes
a great part of the wealth which flows into
the new continent from its exports. The Me
rino has large limbs, anu the male has large
\ spiral horns which do not rise above its head.
The skin Of the neck is loose and pendulOus,
the cheeks and forehead bearing wool. The
fleece is fine, long, soft and twisted in silken
spiral rlnglets Astounding in oil which, attract
ing dust, gives a dingy appearance until
secured, after which it Is silky and white.
This variety is valuable mainly for the excel
lence of Its wool.
Second-The Leicester sheep is regarded in
Europe as one of the most valuable of all
the longwools. This breed, in the present i'm.
proved condition, is the result of the skill and
care of Mr.. Bakewell, of England who, soon
after the middle of the last century, began to
make experiments for the improvement OF the
nj | | n
coarse-bOncd sheep, not easily tatcned, with
coarse wool weighing about ten pounds to the
fleece. The new Leicester, or present breed
has wool moderately long and Of better quail
ty, weighing seven or eight pounds, and is
easily made very fat. The color is white, and
both sexes are hornless with bald face tinged
with blue and low carriage. Other breeds of
long-wools in England have been greatly i'm
proved by crossing with this-thc Lincoln
shire, Romney. Marsh, &c In this country
the Lecesters are large and coarse, but easily
fattened, and with good mutton, the wool mod
erately long, but stiff and without gloss. AL
together this variety is not generally IN great
| esteem.
/ Third-The Lincolnshire is large, honv
animal, takes long 10 mature, has Il long tai
pony head quite bare of wool with good
fleece, rather thin, slightly kinky, with some
gloss But altogether the LincOlnshires have
shorter and the wool more glossy, yet the
fleece not beng equal in quantity or quality
to that of some other breeds. They have not
yet met with general favor, and are rarely
adopted by our wool growers as a breed.
Fourth-The Southdown is one of the most
popular breeds both in England and in the
United States, and have, by crossing, pro-
dLced what are known as Hampshiredowns
Shropshircdowns, OxtordshiredOwns and per
hon nth oil and lint
ing the SouthdOwn marks and characteristics
all producing good wool and making good
mutton. But the Southdowns must be regard
ed as the head of all these, both for wool and
table use, the crossing of this breed having
added nothing to the originals in either quail
ty. The Southdowns are exceedingly neat in
form, both head and body, with gray face ana
legs well covered with wool, the fleece short,
thick and soft, the outer surface often appear
ing as soft as the nicely clipped. The body is
straight with well sprung ribs, broad, level
back and deep TANKS, all well covered with
wool. This breed stands at the head of all
breeds Of sheep for superior table qualities,
but does not rank so high for quantity and quail.
ity of wool. The Southdowns derive their or
igin and name from the Chalkdowns of the
south of England, but are not adapted to a
cold climate.
Flflh-The most important and valuable of
ker, the wool Of which has been held in great
Testeem since the fourteenth century, and has
generally commanded higher price than any
other. In 1924, Edward VI, of England,
sent a present OF Cotswold rams to Henry of
CASTLE, and in 1863 sent similar present to
John Aragon. So the Cotswods reach back
70 right honorable age and right royal pa
irons. But in modern times the Cotswolds
have been greatly improved by crossing with
kha Inip Sh nd
better mutton than IN former times The
Cotswold of to-day has long straight body,
well rounded ribs, thanking low down, good
full twist, broad, flat back, full and low in
brisket, neat, stylish head, broad between the
eyes, neatly taperlng mouth, short legs, with
head, jaws and legs covered with wool and al
together a pretty and stylish body, covered
with fine, long, wavy wool, which is glossy
and very valuable and in great demand. The
face in this breed Is sometimes gray, but not
generally so. They are more docie than any
other breed, and take on flesh very kindly,
making good mutton, but are not considered
in this respect equal to SoulhdOwns Yet all
things considered the COtswOld Is the best and
most profitable breed for the wool growers
and we would earnestly advise them to con
tinue to improve their flockS until they shall be
rs near thoroughbred as possible. 1t costs rs
little to raise and take care of good animal
as an indifferent one, while the thoroughbred
will yield fleece from twelve to twenty-five
pounds, worth twice as much per pound as
the fleece of common sheep, which would
weigh three or four pounds-Americaa Stock
man.
OUR RECIPE FOR CURING MEAT-To one
gallon of water take one and half pounds of
salt, one-half pound Of sugar, onehaf ounce
of saltpeter, One-half ounce of potash In
RAT 10 nil la hp NJ
quantity desired. Let these be boiled togeth-
or until all the dirt from the surar rises 10 the