1804 



Report of Farmp:rs' Institutes 



The Hampshires are the larc:est and heaviest of the Downs. 

 They are never a sheep to rustle, but deserve a place in the 

 hands of intellioent breeders who are not afraid to feed. 



The Suffolk and Oxfords have many of the characteristics 

 of the last named ; neither are as plentiful. 



For men with level farms, who are good caretakers and whose 

 business is to produce lambs for the early summer or fall mar- 

 ket, I should recommend the Shropshires, Southdowns or Hamp- 

 shires. 



The Long \Vools 



These embrace the Lcicesters, a very old breed and much more 

 numerous in Canada than in the United States. Robert Blake- 

 well of Shorthorn cattle fame, began the improvement of these 

 sheep as early as 1755. They are large sheep with a white face 

 and long coarse wool. 



A generation ago the Cotswolds w^ere very numerous in this 

 country. Since then they have been largely superseded by the 

 Downs. They somewhat resemble the Leicesters ; their wool is 

 very coarse and for purposes where long staple is needed, very 

 valuable. They are not heavy shearers and their lambs require 

 a long time to mature. 



Fig. 174. Cot.swold Sheep from Flock m- D. 11. Townsend's Sons, 



LoDi. X. Y. 



The Lincolns of today resemble the Leicester, and well they 

 may, for they possess a strong infusion of this blood. Doubtless 

 they are the heaviest sheep in the world. " Joe Wing " in 

 " Sheep Farming in America," speaks of having seen quarters 



