The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-11-18
Descriptions of Various Breeds OF
Sheep.
THE MERINO.

LIE MEilNOs
This breed is one of the most ancient
and widely disseminated breeds known.
1t was imported into this country in 1902,
and it's value for the production of nice
quality of wool has led to its becoming
introduced into nearly all sections of the
country. The Rambouillets were first
imported into this country from France
in 1901. They are branch of the Meri-
nos. Their wool, however, was found to
be coarser in fiber than the Merinos, and
they are not thought to be as hardy.
The Merino is generally described as a
small boned sheep of medium size and
compact in form, with somewhat light
shoulders and chest The weight of the
ewes will average from sixty to seventy
pounds. They are remarkable for the
large amount of every fine wool which
they yield.
OXFORD DOWNS.
This is comparatively new breed, and
was produced by course of cross breed
ing of Cotswolds and Hampshres, with
an occasional mixture of Southdown
blood. The breed was produced about
seventy years ago in the county of Ok
ford, England, from which it takes its
name. An English authority says that
1.-THE Oxford Downs should have a nice,
dark color, the poll well covered with
wool, adorned with a top-knot on the
forehead; good fleece of wool, thick on
the skin, but not too curly; we'll formed
BARREL on short, dark legs (not gray nor
spotted, with good, firm mutton"
The Oxford Down is decidedly the
largest of all the Down breeds, cuts more
wool and of longer staple.
soUTHDowNs.
This is very old breed of sheep, and
it was originated in England among the
chalkly hills and downs, commonly called
South Downs, from which the breed de-
rives its name. They have a close, set
fleece of fine wool, their faces and legs
are of a dusky brown color, their necks
slightly arched, their limbs short, with
broad aud compact body. They will
will thrive best when well fed, mature
very early, and are hardy and prolific,
often producing two at birth. On ac-
count of the early maturity of the lambs
they have become a very popular breed
for the production of early lambs.
sHRoPsHIREs.
The Shropshire partakes of the general
characteristics of the Southdown, al
though it is considerably heavier in fleece
and body 1t is called the most prolific
of all breeds.
CoTswOLDS.
This is one of the largest of the English
breeds, and has become the most popular
of the long wooded class in the United
States. 1t is very old breed. The Cots
void and the Leicesters are SO nearly alike
in external appearance as to be often mis-
taken for each other. The Cotswolds are
larger and usually have considerable wool
upon the forehead, while the Leicesters
have but little, being nearly bare faced.
They have not appeared to thrive in GER
tain sections of the State, as we'll as some
of the Down breeds, although we have
seen them in perfection in the fine graz
ing sections of Aroostook county.
HAMPSHIRE DOWNS.
This is an old and we'll established
down in appearance, but being very much
larger. They have good constitution,
are hardy, and possess an aptitude to fat
ten with a smaller amount of feed than
some other breeds. They mature early
and are good wool bearers, the average
weight of the fleece being from five to six
pounds. Like all the Down breeds, the
Hampshires herd we'll and larger flock
can be kept together than the long wooded
varities, while they are valuable for cross
ing with the native sheep and grades of
our country.