THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



325 



regard to Down Cotswolds, no doubt the first cross was one of 

 the most useful breed of sheep they had, to certain flock mas- 

 ters ; but there were many gentlemen who did not keep a 

 breeding flock, but bought stock aud fed out.' In his opinion 

 the most useful cross was the Long-wooUed with the Down; for 

 with respect to money value, they got gieater weight and 

 nearly as much wool, though as regards quality they could not 

 go quite so far. They had seen some fine specimens of long- 

 wooUed sheep aud of the Downs, but when they spoke of Ox- 

 fordshire Downs they meant a distinct breed— a cross breed — 

 a continuation from the Cotswold and the Downs. 



Mr. W. GiLLETT, of Brize-Norton, said he had not been in 

 business long, but he had heard his father say that for twenty 

 years he had been a breeder of this class of sheep, and never 

 used any other. Mr. Hitchman, the father and founder of 

 this breed of sheep, had stated that twenty years was long 

 enough to establish a claim to a distinctive name, and he cor- 

 dially concurred with him. 



Mr. John Greaves, of Elsfield, said he agreed with al 

 that had fallen from the previous speakers, and remarked that 

 he had been a breeder of this class of sheep for seventeen 

 years, and the flock which he took to, belonging to Mr. Martin 

 Tagg, was of ten years' standing, and up to the present time 

 had never been crossed. 



Mr. J. Hitchman then moved, and Mr. J. Rowland 

 seconded, the following resolution, which was carried unani- 

 mously : 



" That this meeting is of opinion that it is expedient to give 

 to the breed of sheep now known as ' Down Cotswolds,' and 

 which has been established in this ^county for upwards of 



twenty years, the more distinctive aud proper name of ' Ox- 

 fordshire Downs.'" 



The Chairman suggested that Mr. Druce, sen., who took 

 an active part in the proceedings of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society, should be requested to call the attention of that body 

 to the resolution which had been agreed to unanimously by the 

 principal breeders of the class of sheep in question. 



It was then agreed that the resolution should be advertised 

 in the Oxford Journal, the Oxford Chronicle, and the Mark- 

 Lane Express; after which, on the motion of Mr. J. Rowland, 

 seconded by Mr. J, Greaves, a vote of thanks was accorded 

 to the Chairman for his kindness in taking the chair, and for 

 the ability which he had displayed in presiding over the 

 meeting. 



The Chairman briefly returned thanks, and stated that 

 he should always be happy to place his services at the command 

 of his brother-agriculturists. The Chairman then left, aud 

 Mr. Hitchman having been voted in his place, the interesting 

 ceremony of christening the newly-designated breed was pro- 

 ceeded with, and success to the " Oxfordshire Downs " was 

 drunk in bumpers of champagne. 



Other toasts followed, including " The father and godfather 

 of the Oxfordshire Downs, Mr. Hitchman and Mr. Rowland,'' 

 and not forgetting " The breed and breeders of other classes 

 of sheep," for which Mr. Lord, of Stanton Harcourt, a long- 

 wooUed breeder, returned thanks. " The health of Mr. Mid- 

 dleton," who suggested the change of name, and who was the 

 originator of the present meeting, was also drunk with great 

 enthusiasm, and after several other appropriate toasts the com- 

 pany dispersed. — Oxford Journal. 



BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY FOR 

 AGRICULTURE, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, 



THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF 

 AND COMMERCE. 



The monthly council of this Society was held on Satur- 

 day, August 29th., at Waghorn's Hotel, Taunton, Charles 

 Aaron Moody, Esq., M.P., in the chair. There were 

 likewise present, Messrs. Acland, Sillifant, Hussey, Gor- 

 don, Hooper, R. May, Smith, King, Knollys, Porter, 

 Baan, Morle, Thompson, J. Gray, Cotterell, Widdicombe, 

 Gillett, Hole, R. Badcock, Danger, Farrant, Fry, New- 

 man, Belfield, Clarke, and Dickinson. 



The chief business of the meeting had reference to the 

 proposed exhibition and annual meeting in the district of 

 South Wales in 1 858. A deputation consisting of fourteen 

 members of the council assembled at the Cardiff Arms 

 Hotel, Cardiff, on the morning of the previous day 

 (Friday), where they were met by the Mayor of 

 Cardiff, with Messrs. Williams, E. Davies, Corbet, and 

 other gentlemen, forming the local committee, from whom 

 the members of the deputation received every courtesy. 

 The latter then inspected the various sites selected bj' the 

 local committee, and Mr. Sillifant, tlie chairman of the de- 

 putation, now reported as the result of that inspection, that 

 they were unanimously of opinion that the land on the 

 south-side of the Cathayes Park, offered by Mr. Richards, 

 on behalf of Lady Bute, was the most eligible site for 

 the show-j'ard. 



The recommendation was agreed to. 



It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. 

 Belfield, that it be referred to a committee consisting of 

 the Director and the Stewards of the past year, together 

 with Messrs. Wippell and Hussey, to consider and report 

 on the whole subject of the Veterinary Inspector ; and 

 especially with reference to the courses which should be 

 adopted on future occasions in respect to animals which 

 may be disqualified by him or otherwise, and which, but 

 for such disqualification, would have been entitled to 

 the prize. 



Mr. T. D. AcLAND brought up the report of the Finance 

 Committee, but no discussion of importance arose upon its 

 recommendations. 



The several committees were appointed to settle and pre- 

 pare the Prize Sheets for the Society's Show of 1858. 



The following new members were elected, viz. :— 

 Farrant, William, Torquay, Devon ; Heath, W. E., Gas- 

 works, Honiton, Devon ; Hobbs, W. F., Boxted Lodge, 

 Colchester, Essex ; Hudson, John, Castle Acre ; Leach, 

 Wm , Kentisbeare, Devon ; Leigh, James P., Richmond, 

 Surrey; Perry, Robt., New Farm, Priston, Somerset; 

 Trehonmais, M., London Farmers' Club; Warren, F. H., 

 Dulvcrton, Somerset ; West of England Land Drainage 

 Company, Exeter, Devon. 



