ANIMALsS. 53

weight, with but little additional expense, except the extra food consumed by the large horse over the one in common use. Similar reasons would apply to other parts of the United⸗States.

But the horse which would seem to be best adapted for many agricultural purposes in this country, and one that possesses the combination of strength, compactness, and activity, is the“Suffolk Punch.“ It is difficult to trace the origin of this breed, other than that it has been reared in Suffolk for many years, where it was probably once employed for other purposes. These animals, for the most part, are of a chestnut color, though sometimes sorrel and bay, which uniformity shows that the breed has been kept tolerably pure. They are distinguished by roundness of barrel and compact- ness of form, generally combined with great activityK. They are exceedingly staunch to the collar, free from any redundancy of hair on the legs, and are by no means coarse about the head. They are rarely of large size, but usually range from fifteen to sixteen hands high. It speaks highly in favor of this breed that, at the late shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, they carried away the majority of prizes. It should be observed, however, that they are rather more liable to strains of the sinews and the joints than most other breeds.

p. J. B.

ADAPTATION OF THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS OF THE S0UTH TO SHEEP HUSBANDRVY.

BX GEORGE C. PATTERSON, OF ROGERSVILLE, HAWKINS C0UNTY, TENNESSEE.

The opinion, which has heretofore generally prevailed, that the northern portions of the United States are better adapted to the purposes of sheep-farming than the southern, is gradually being removed by successful experiments, showing not only that this impression is founded in error, but establishing, conclusively, the converse of the proposition; that is, that, in all the essentials for profitable sheep-farming, a large portion of the Southern States possesses advantages incomparably superior to those presented by territory further north.

Beginning at or near a point on the 39th degree of north latitude, 150 miles from the Atlantic coast, and proceeding in a southwestward direction, as far down as the 34th degree, we find an expanse of country embracing about 180, 000 square miles, the geological and climatological characteristics of which give to it advantages for sheep husbandry unequalled in any other portion of the United States, of the same extent...

This area of, say, 600 miles in length by 300 in width, includes large portions of Virginia and Tennessee, with considerable parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, and a small portion of South Carolina and Mississippi.