The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-03

mar Is snort ana or dfliAtE DlHck. the UOuV the
wool Is white and long, perfectly straight, that
is, mas spiral curve: thick and WHY, and is
much mixed with hair. It's horns are very large,
adding greatly to it's striking and picturesque APP
peaTauce. The horns of the male rise almost
perpendcularly from the skull, making series
of spiral curves in their ascent, while in the
female they dlverge, taking lareral direction
aud then ascending. This variety OF sheep IA
said to be vicious and unTu'y ana of great
strength 1t has considerable resemblance 10
the Persian sheep and bluck-faced heath-hreed
of Scotland. The pure Crctan breed of sheen at
present Is not very common, even In the above
countries, as II has heen'WlNen or mas been su-
perseded by The introduction INTO them Of the
Merno
cine Iceland shoep," saws Zouatt. "that have
come under my personal observation are Of
to.erab.y larger size and strongly built. Their
Httce consists of coarse hair externally, with an
under layer OF close wool. Their horns gen
orally four IL number, sometimes six, or even
eight ana TINS 10 the more remarkable as the Ice
land cows aut oxen are mostly polled."
The notices OF the wild and Oriental breeds
of sheep here introduced designed rather to
gratltv curlostty natural to persons on such "A
subject In rural life than to subserve rhe inter
estS Of agriculture, and To learn how the intlu-
ence of cllnla,s ana SOIL and food can produce 30
many VARIETIES from a single stock as seen IN
the sheep tdu ny.
THE MUTTON BREEDS.
Randall classes the mutton breeds as follows;
The Leicesters, Cotswolds, New Oxfordshires,
South downs, Hampshire downs Shropshire
downs. and the Oxfordshire downs. The Leices
tiers, nnder the most favorable circumstances
for their development, perhaps excel others III
earliness of maturity, and none make better re-
turns for the amount o. food consumed by them.
But they require better shelter. keep ana care
than any other variety. The ewes are not so
prolific, nor 30 good nurses as those of the other
mutton families, ana their lambs. when first
uroppei demand a good deal OF attention. The
mutton IS only medium in quality, ana owing TO
lCs great amount of outside tat, is not generally
sought 10 supply American tables. The origin
OF TINS sheep owes much OF its excellence TO he
sagacity and skill of the celebrated breeder Mr..
Blackwell The Lincolnshire, tho Dorset shire
the Gloucestershire, and the New OXf0rdsnire
are large, c0arse-wOOled and coarse bOned sheep,
which nave their partisaus IN particular dis
trlcts, ana are much crossed and lnteUmiXcd
MIN othtfs' put nave not attained the env}abe
distinction of being improved so as to form "A
distinct and extensively popular race The
CotSwolds are larger, harder ANA more prolific
sheep than the preceding, and the are bet.
Ter mothers They furnish a valuable cOmbIug
WOOL ana are "A decidedly faVOrlte sheep with
the breeders of long woods in the United states
The COtswOlds, Il breed, are of great antiuuity
The south downs, the original Sussex or South
downs, have PROBABLY the puresU blood, free
from HdmlXture during the long period which
covers the rise aud development of the British
wool manufacture and the Increase of meat pro-
auction OF any British sheep. Their improve
ment has been long continued and is still eOn-
UnulnE apparently without the necessity Of4fe-
currence to any foreign blood for ameoratio
OF a single objectionable point. The Hampshire
downs-ths family is the result of il cross he
tween the South down and a shurt-wonled Eng
llsh variety of greater size and better cOustiIu.
ton. Some writer's conjecture that they have
also slight infusion Of COtswoli blood. They
are coarser IN appearance than the South
downs, and their mutton sells half
a cent less per pound in the mar
kel' OUT thty possess nearly all the
good qualities of the foCmerau are nardier. They
| are iavOrites IN many parts Of England, but
have not been introduced extensively into the
United states. The Shropshire downs, like tho
preceding, have been produced by a south
down CROSS is II very hardy short wooded stock
and most of the h0GEs have also IL dip of the
Leicester and the COtswold blood. They are
nearly as large as the last-named families, aud
[ they promise to unite to an uncommon degree
tue Sood qualities of the snort and long woods,
being larger than the former and harder, and
the ewes are highly prolific and are excellent
4 mothers. Superior specimens of them ara TO he
found in the United States ana Canada. The
ONtOrdsnlre down Is comparatively modern
family; is OF between tue Hamnsniro
down or the South downs and CotswOld, and the
statements above made In respect TO the ShrOp-
shlres Will apply equally well TO them, though
the Two families vary III appearance and in sew
ernl OF their minor qualities. The CheviOt and
Back-taced sheep OF Scotland have PECULIAR ties
which tntltle them TO n brief notice Both kinds
are of moderate size and good shape, weighing
when dsessed, FROM twelve 10 twenty pounds to
Il quarter. Their wool, especially that OF the
| Black-taced, is of very inferior quality, They
are thrifty and their mutton is Of the best quail
", commanding a high price from its rescm-
blance in TASTE TO venlsOn, and is much sought
after by epcureans. They are both well adapted
TO the cold and mountainous regions of the coun-
try they inhabit On the upper part OF the Inn
in Nor cumberland, which is properly termed
the CheVlOt, Is the central LOCALITY Of the sheen
called by that name. They have been there from
time immemurIal. This brand. however, has
greatly extended itself throughout Scotland, aud
also into Wales. They are without horns and
with lace and legs white.