The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-01-29
The shropshire-pown sn.ep.


ties OF the sheep, -two things must be
considered, viz, theimproyementof OF those
qualities without lessening the value OF
the wool and the breed or breeds best
| adapted to the purpose. In the United
States the foundationstocks OF Merinoes
| and Merino grades are overwhelmingly
| in the ma ority, which means that these
foundation stocks are i'll adapted in them
selves to the production ofmutton. Now
it is fact that in the improvement OF
livestock some breeds do not answer as
well as Others. A breed that will effect
improvement when crossed upon another
breed pure or nearly so, in one instance,
may iai to do so in another. Owing to
some mysterious lack OF affinity in dom
inant properties they fail to blend har-
moniously. The only sure evidence that
we can have that one breed will be able
to effect Improvement in another is that
furnished by actual demonstration
L ried by this test, the Shropshire-Downs
have been found eminentIy adapted to
the purpose OF improving the average
foundation stocks IN the United States.
This III part accounts for the great in
srease in the numbers OF the Shropshires
in America during recent years, and also
for their amazing popularity. These facts
are all the more remarkable when we re-
fleet that the Shropshire-Down in their
improved form are one Of the newest of
the breeds. This TACT emphasizes two
things, viz, that antiquity may easily
be overvalued, and that excellence OF
breeding is really Of more account than
| antiquity of breeding. 1t also shows us
that in one short century or less any
breed may be rendered highly prepotent.
| The great matter then in selection is high
excellence in the near ancestry rather
than in that which is remote. The Shrop-
shire-Down has been found to blend ad-
mirably with Merino grade stock. 1t
covers the bony framework with plump
and juicy meat. 1t widens the body and
makes it deeper and thicker throughout
1t removes the narrowness OF chest de-
velopment, which is fatal to robustness
OF constitution. 1t sends wrinkles and
folds IN the skin and undue throatiness
to the winds in one or two rations.
1t imparts a vigorous digestion, with
out which profitable feeding and early
maturity are impossible; and it does
all this without lessening the value OF
the fleece. 1t also blends admirably
with grade Leicester sheep by increasing
their hardihood and improving the
quality Of the meat by intermlngling the
ia and lean.
Trotting Notes.
Gus Mallow is driving . Byron Shsr-
man yearling out Of his brown Shire
mare.
Overpeck Bros are breaking Byron
Sherman yearllng, that PAGES remark
ably fast.
1t is pretty generally understood that
Dakota Chef is open fora challenge from
any up coutry horse.
Mayor Woods brought a man from In
| depedence, to look after Martinett and
| handle his young things. The mayorsays
| he is much pleased with his work. ,sa
D. T. Harrison OF Minnesota, one of
the promoters OF the Black Hills racing
circuit, writes that he will have several
youngsters in training next season.
| Pearl, the dam OF Ben Hur 2:24, enter
ed "the great brood mare list last sea-
son, having produced another 2:3O, per
former, a full brother to Ben Hur.
Judge Plowman OF fDeadwood now owns
Grand Rapids, the standard stallion
that the and B company brought to
this country. He is a well bred horse.
S. \. Brown and Co OF Kalamazoo
Mich, who were among the first to pat
ronze the great stallion Nelson, have, it
is said, arranged to handle him next
season.
| A gentleman from Minnesota writing
the UNION this week desires to know how
much money Overpeck Bros can put up,
if he arranges a race between King
Russell and Skeese, to come Off this
spring.
With not single exception, the
horsemen OF Deadwood seem to endorse
the Black Hills racing circuit. In this
issue will be found a letter from Captain
Knight on the subject.
Fuller Bros OF Minnesota have in Chic
adee 1919, a well bred trotting stallion,
being by Mambrino Boy and out OF a
dam by Seminal. Chicadee can trot
. close to $50 and rumor has it that he
will be among the fast ones in next years
circuit.
James Hartgering OF Hermosa will
have his fine Cleyland Bay stallion Sci
kirk, worked for speed next spring Sci
kirk has superb trotting action and Mr.
Hartgering thinks that with little hand
ling he can be made to trot in thre,
! milluts. :
4 Anter Jr is being logged occasional,
q on the street. He is just as ambition
4 and nervy as ever By the way, it i
i whispered around that Cha riie Kerry,
ne