LEICESTER SHUEP. 
possession of the Southdown Sheep, which is often crossed successfully with some local 
breed. Indeed, this polled or hornless variety has superseded every horn-bearing breed 
throughout the kingdom, wherever it can find a habitable locality. In Scotland and 
elsewhere, the Southdown would not be able to live, as it 1s of too delicate a nature to 
withstand the severity of the terrible highland winter; so that the original horned breed 
still holds its place. 
The Wiltshire Sheep have lost their horny armatures by continual crossing with the 
Southdown, and the result is that a remarkably fine variety has been produced, possessing 
greater dimensions, a lghter colour, and a finer fleece. 
OWING to the very great number of the domestic varieties of the Sheep, amounting to 
rearly thirty distinct breeds, it will be impossible to give more than a mere outline of 
the most important among them. An example of the “long-wooled variety is found in the 
LEICESTER SHEEP, under which general title are grouped six or eight sub-varieties of the 
same breed. This animal favours the low-lying level pasturages of the midland counties, 
and is not so fond of elevated spots as the W elsh and Southdown. 
The most celebrated breed of Leicester Sheep is that which is known as the Dishley 
breed, and which was developed by the persevering energies of a single individual against 
every possible discouragement. Mr. Bakewell, s seeing that the whole practice of Sheep- 
breeding was based on erroneous principles, struck out an entirely new plan, and followed 
it with admirable perseverance. The usual plan in breeding the old Leicester Sheep was 
to obtain a large body and a heavy fleece. Mr. Bakewell, however, thought that these 
overgrown animals could not be nearly so profitable to the farmer as a smaller and better 
proportioned breed ; for the amount of wool and flesh which was gained by the larger 
animals would not ‘compensate for the greater amount of food required to fatten them, 
and the additional year or eighteen months during which they had to be maintained. 
His idea was, that three extra pounds of wool are not so valuable as ten or twelve 
pounds of meat, and that when the expense of keeping and feeding a Sheep for eighteen 
months is taken into consideration, the balance is certainly on the wrong side. He there- 
fore set himself to improve the flesh, letting the wool take care of itself at first, and 
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