The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-09-22

used to do it; nevertheless these sec
tons may still be regarded as being
fine wool in character.
In Tennessee, Virginia and Ken
lucky, the spring lamb region of Amer
lea, Southdown rams are very popu-
lar. Through the central farming sec
tons of the country the medium-wool
breeds have taken possession, the long
woods largely being in locations more
Northwest, notably Canada, Utah,
Idaho, Montana and Oregon.
1t Is not always possible to say that
there is one best breed for any Sec
ton. There may be two or three that
would do equally as well, but 1t is
undeniable that some breeds are far
more suitable than others for given
location. All the breeds have their
good qualities and most of them, If
properly handled, will give good re-
suits in some section of America. The
problem Is to get the ones best adapt
ed to particular conditions. Some
breeds have larger number of high
class individuals than others, but a
truly successful breeder can improve
any of them.
AS rule, but one breed should be
selected. Where there is more than
one breed upon farm 1t Is a difficult
matter to keep the gates all closed at
the proper time and prevent crossing.
If several farms are available more
| breeds can be handled, but the diff
culties in management are much in
creased. The most successful sheep
breeders in America handle but one
breed. The fact that there are more
breeds than in any other class of farm
animals may in itself make the selec-
ton Of one breed rather difficult.
Some of the deciding factors should
be climatic conditions, feeds available.
altitude, the particular line of the in
dustry to be followed, and popularity
of the breed In the section in which
the farmer is located
The effect of climate is strikingly
illustrated in the evolution of the
sheep industry of the extreme North
west. The Willamette Valley in Ore
gon, now so famous for its long woods,
was once partly occupied by fine
wool sheep. The large amount of rain
fall, which comes in a long-contiInued
| drizZle, caused the hay and weed
seeds that became lodged in the wool
to grow and become green upon the
| Sleeps back. The Merino breeds were
| decidedly out of place there. After a
time the Lincoln and other long-wool
breeds were introduced and the in
dustry assumed a different aspect.
| Their long locks act as a thatch, car
rying the water off, and these breeds
thrive as they do in few places ex-
! cept their native counties In England.
The kind Of feed produced is of i'm
portance. The large breeds have been
veloped upon land that has produced
abundantly. They are capable of TAX
| ing care of a larger amount of feed,
| such as the moist fertile lowlands pro-
duce, while the smaller breeds succeed
better upon the less abundant fare of
drier and less fertile pastures. There
is evidently some connection between
the general high quality of the smaller
breeds and the scanty, more nutritious
feeds that they receive under natural
conditions. If they are removed to
the lowlands they lose much Of their
characteristic type and quality.
The effect of altitude upon a breed
is also apparent, but how much of this
effect is due to the amounts and kinds
of feed 1t is difficult to determine. Ger
tain it Is that the mountain breeds
are smaller, more active, more hardy.
and better able to care for themselves
than their lowland neighbors.
The importance of hardness in the
mountain breeds was shown during
the last century along the Scottish
border. The Cheviot had for a num-
Der of years been displacing the black
| faced Highland breed because of it's
finer quality Of wool and somewhat
better carcass. A number Of severe
winters worked havoc among the
fiocks of the former breed by caus-
ing very heavy lamb loss, and the
Highland breed, because of its hardi-
ANoog SatAAO DdSh AnlO lI6 OWL.
Whether the breeder expects to spe-
cialize upon some particular line OF
sheep farming should likewise be in
strumental in making a decision If
winter lambs are to be produced a
breed must be secured that will breed
at the right season of the year. and
not all will do this. The Dorset, Me
rino and Tunis have given the best
satisfaction thus far
The popularity of a breed will often
have its effect in influencing ones de-
cision. Some breeds have been de-
veloped under conditions that are
more general, or else they have a
wider range of adaptability than 9TH
ers. The popularity of several breeds
in this country is due to this fact No
better illustrations of these can be
mentioned than the Merinos and
Shropshires that are found from Maine
to California. Some of the minor
breeds need men who will place them
before the public. as there can be no
doubt as to the effect of wide-awake
breed association In advancing a
breed.
1t is well before making selection |
to consider carefully the most popu-
lar breed In your community. There
is usually some good reason for its |
being popular, but occasionally be- |
cause of fashion a breed will enjoy /
a boom" that it does not rightly de- |
serve. In some states at the present
time there are colonies of breeders |
handling certain breeds, and buyers |
are attracted there because there are
excellent opportunities for selection In
the neighborhood. There are also ad-
vantages connected with buying stock
near home. The keen competition Of
fered by some of the classes in the
show ring has been lure that has
caused some men to take up GER
tain breed. Others have been con-
tent to win more often in the smaller
classes where the winnings are easier.
Some breeds are regarded as need
ing more care than others; at any rate
they become more unsightly II denied
this attention However, no flock
will thrive upon mismanagement.
Good appearance is always desirable.
and sometimes 1t is of prime impor-
lance. The use of sheep for keeping
the lawns of parks and country places
in trim has been in effect in this coun-
try for years and here attractiveness
is indispensable. The Southdown has
proved very popular for this purpose |