. The American farmer. A complete agricultural library, with useful facts for the household, devoted to farming in all its departments and details. s impatient of folding, and suffer less from a pasture beingthickly stocked than almost any other breed. The Southdowns will subsist on light pasturage, but of course thrive best when well fed;and, where wool and mutton are both desired, are a profitable breed for any farmer. Theyattain early maturity, are hardy and prolific, often producing two at a birth; in this respectthey surpass the Merinos. Breeders of experience state that a hundred ewes wi
. The American farmer. A complete agricultural library, with useful facts for the household, devoted to farming in all its departments and details. s impatient of folding, and suffer less from a pasture beingthickly stocked than almost any other breed. The Southdowns will subsist on light pasturage, but of course thrive best when well fed;and, where wool and mutton are both desired, are a profitable breed for any farmer. Theyattain early maturity, are hardy and prolific, often producing two at a birth; in this respectthey surpass the Merinos. Breeders of experience state that a hundred ewes will, on theaverage, produce a hundred per cent, of lambs, the twins occurring as often as barrenness inewes. The lambs are large, hardy, and mature early; when eight months old they are saidto dress from sixty to one hundred pounds. The sheep fatten readily, and take on the fatevenly over the entire carcass. They are not, however (as is the case with all the highly-improved English breeds), as long-lived as the Merinos, and may be considered in their primeat three years. The ewea should not become mothers until two yeais old. Though naturally. SHEEP. 279 an upland slieep, they thrive equally well in lower sections, and are much in favor in manyof the Southern States, as well as other portions of the country. They are used for crossingwith the native sheep with good success. Hampshires, sometimes called HampsMredowns, as they belong to the family ofDowns (or sheep that are natives of the downs of England), are an old and well-establishedbreed, much resembling the Southdowns in general appearance, having the dark-colored faceand legs characteristic of that breed, but are considerably larger than the latter. They areof a good constitution, hardy, possess an aptitude to fatten with a smaller amount of foodthan some breeds, mature early, and are good wool bearers; the average weight of the fleecebeing from five to six pounds, the wool being of fine quality and medium staple. Theavera
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
