Loonidas M'Daniel, an extensive wool grower of Rush county, Indiana, givas through the In diana Farmer his experience in crossing the different breeds. He says : — Merino sheep will herd together in large flocks better than any other kind, if a man is only breeding for wool. They will not do for mutton and wool combined, as a breed, but to cross thorn with Cotswolds makes next to the best cross I over tried. But the most successful cross is one-fourth South down and three-fourths long wool. For hardi ness, size of carcas, and wool, all combined, this cross cannot be beat in this State— climate, market, and wool all considered. To get this cross I would start on the largest, best Cots wold ewes that I could raise or buy, and would stay with them all the time, but in about four years, or five at most, they will run down. To counteract this tendency to run down and take scours and rot, and all other ails that this open wool breed is liable to take, on account of our severe winters, I just throw in one-fourth Southdown. To make this cross, use a South down buck on. those large ewes, then cross again with. Leicester or Lincoln, I know some thoroughbred gentleman will cry out, " Oh, thia is a mongrel breed." Well, I know that. I sheared 15i pounds of wool from my year lings, and sold a few that weighed 135 pounds. In a month after shearing time my ewes will weigh from 180 to 200 pounds, and are always fat with a half chance. They live long and breed well. I have some that raised lambs at 12 years old, and I have sold the lambs at lOdols.
