Kind of Sheep.

The sheep, of course, must be adapted to the country. This is a fundamental principle in sheep-farming. A man may change his "run," but he cannot easily change his flock.

It is the opinion of several experienced sheep-farmers in Scotland, with whom I have consulted, that a suitable breed for the whole of British Columbia might be found in a cross between a Cheviot ewe and a Leicester ram.

The large and heavy Cheviot proper would stand the wetness of the West Cascade region, as well as the winter cold of the East Cascade region; but this sheep might not like the hot summers of the latter. Again, the Cheviot is inclined to roam, and yields comparatively little wool. Crossing a Cheviot ewe with a Leicester ram, however, would produce a sheep which probably would stand both the heat and cold of the East Cascade region; this crossing would at the same time tame the Cheviot, make the sheep more disposed to take on fat, and would almost double the fleece, while improving the quality of the wool.

While travelling in Colorado last year, where the climate somewhat resembles that of portions of British Columbia, I was told that the favourite plan there for wool-sheep was to cross imported thorough-bred Merino rams with native Mexican ewes. The latter are believed to be the old Spanish Merino breed, run out, but healthy, hardy, and acclimated.

This cross prepared the way for mutton-sheep, crossing readily with Southdown or Cotswold, and giving a large frame and fine mutton.

There are good breeds of sheep in Oregon (quite close to British Columbia)—Southdowns, Cotswolds, Merinos, and also a cross of the Merino and Leicester.

These prices were not maintained in 1871 and 1872, and the California "growers" and speculators did not make much in those years. The reader will see above the difference between the value of California and Oregon wool. British Columbia would class with, probably surpass, the produce of Oregon. The price at one term in 1872, in San Francisco, for best "Northern" wool came down from a nominal price of 40 cents to about half that price.