The Portland daily press., 1880-09-29
AGRICULTURAL
Concerning Sheep.

In response to queries by our readers, we
subjoin condensed description of the Sew
erai breeds of sheep common in England
and the United States, and we would sug-
gest to those who wish to keep these data in
mind that they either cut this out for their
scrap book or preserve the paper We have
already given most of these descriptions in
answer to questions, as reference to our
files will show, and if this is observed it will
obviate the necessity of repeating them.
OF the long wool sheep, the principal are
the Cotswolds, Leices ers and Lincolns.
The former are now well known in this
country. They are hornless, have white
faces and legs, and distinguishing feature
is a tuft of long wool covering the forehead.
These sheep hold the first place among
breeders of long wool sheep, and special
efforts have been made to keep the blood
pure.
The Leicesters, or as they are soinetin eS
called, the Blackwell sheer, from the fact
that Robert Blackwell of England gave con-
siderable attention to their improvement,
have growing popularity, though they hold
the second place in the estimation of Amer-
can breeders. When well fattened its NUT
ton is large, which is one reason of its I'M
cheap meats. They have no horns, have a
notified or smutty face and legs, and their
fleece is quite uniform.
The Lincoln is yet but little known on
this side of the Atlantic, though quite popu-
lar in England, many giving it the first
place where size and quality of carcass and
character and weight of fleece are the lead
ing objects. They have white faces and
legs, are hornless, and the wool, which is
glossy, atiains great length and is in great
demand for the manufacture of certain
classes OF goods.
The middle or medium wool sheep are
the various breeds of Downs. so-called be-
cause their habitat is upon the downs or
commons. The SouthdOwn or Sussex Down
as 1t is commonly called, is at present the
most popular sheep Of the class. They have
brown faces and legs, Il compact, we'll
rounded form and are very hardy. Their
blood enters quite largely into other valie-
ties of Down sheep. Their fleece is rather
short and coarse, but as a mutton sheep it
stands deservedly high. They are the small
est sheep of their class, are prolific and very
popular where really first class mutton finds
a ready sale. The Hampshire Downs are
supposed TO have had their origin from Cots
void and Southdown blood upon the origin
al Hampshires, the latter being a small ma
tive breed. They are large sheep, are fat
tened readily and are popular with some
English breeders. Like other Down sheep,
lney nave Oiack or notified faces. The Ok
ford Downs have a combination of the Cots
void and Southdown, showing their Cots
void origin by the tuft of wool upon their
foreheads. 3 They are large, well-formed,
have dark legs and faces, and will become
popular as they are better known. The
Shropshire Down is one of the more recent
crosses, but has growing popularity 1t
is large and handsome, with all the good
points of other Down sheep. 1t is cross of
the CotswOld upon the Morfe Common, a
dark-faced and dark-legged sheep, and has
been bred to fixed standard. lis Morfe
Common ancestor vas horned sheep, but
by breeding with the Cotswold the horns
have disappeared.
Is The Merinos are the best type of the
short wool sheep, and with the Saxony,
which are supposed to be of the same origin,
are the only sheep of this class bred in this
country. 1t had its origin in Spain and is
called by some the Spanish Merino, though
We can see no reason why they should be
hus designated. They have been in this
country for nearly hundred years, and
food and climate have wrought great
changes. 1t has become thoroughly Ameri-
canized, and we know no good reason why
it should not be called American Meri no.
Vermont has long been noted for its valu-
able fiocks of Merlno sheep and of late years
they have been quite extensively bred in
Maine. Their distinguished features are
well known to our readers. MAINE Farmer.