SHEER 273 



throughout the country. The aim of the originators of the breed was to obtain an animal 

 that possessed the weight of the long wooled sheep, with the quality and characteristics of 

 the Downs, and the best types of the breed show how admirably they have succeeded. 



Description. Good English authority prescribes that the Oxfordshire Downs should 

 have &quot; a nice, dark color, the poll well covered with wool, adorned with a top-knot on the 

 forehead; a good fleece of wool, thick on the skin, but not too curly; a well-formed barrel, 

 on short, dark legs (not grey nor spotted), with good, firm mutton.&quot; The weight of the wool 

 for a whole flock is estimated to be, on the average, about seven pounds per sheep, while rams 

 have been known to cut as much as twenty pounds per shearing. The Oxford Down is 

 characterized by great hardiness of constitution, large size, heavy fleece, facility for fattening, 

 and excellent mutton. It is adapted more particularly for mixed soils, and bears close stock 

 ing and confinement well. They are larger than either Southdown or Shropshires, bear 

 more wool and of a longer staple, their wool being long enough for combing, and nearly as 

 long as the Longwools, while they have the dark faces which characterize the Southdown, 

 although not quite as dark as the latter. It is difficult for one not an expert, or familiar with 

 the breed, to distinguish between the Shropshire and the Oxford Down. 



Mr. George Gardener, of Canada, an English farmer of extensive experience, states his 

 opinion of the breed as follows: &quot;Having a thorough knowledge of the Oxford Downs, from 

 living within a few miles of the part where this breed was originated, I can state positively 

 that there is not a more profitable variety in existence. These sheep are a complete answer 

 to all those who will not allow that good ever arises from crossing, as they were a direct cross 

 between the Cotswold on one side and the Hampshire Down on the other; and the Oxford 

 Downs are now an established breed, and continue to be distinct, and follow true to parentage, 

 without any uneven look in the flock which will occur at the commencement of a direct cross 



between two pure breeds The Oxfordshire Down is decidedly the largest of all the 



Down species, and cuts more wool; and the reason that they continue to gain favor in 

 England is that the mutton from any kind of Down sheep makes more per pound, and is 

 always more readily sold. The Oxford Down lies better within hurdles, and comes to very 

 early maturity, also cuts a heavy fleece, as well as being of superior quality. Any one 

 may depend upon them for being a very profitable breed, if well fed; for they will cut 10 or 

 12 pounds of wool at 14 months old, and weigh 120 pounds, dressed weight, on turnips and 

 hay, if the hay is cut when the grass is coming into bloom.&quot; 



They are a large, handsome sheep, and aside from the profits resulting from breeding 

 them, are farther satisfactory in an aesthetic point of view to a farmer who has a keen appre 

 ciation, and an eye for beauty and fine points in an animal. Like most of the thoroughbred 

 stock, they may be used with great success in improving the native stock of the country. 



A cross upon the common sheep or grades of other varieties results in early maturing 

 lambs for city markets, or when kept for general use, they will develop into a flock characterized 

 by many desirable qualities, which the average farmer can turn to profitable account, and are 

 worthy the attention of breeders so circumstanced as to take advantage of the growing taste 

 in the country for first-class mutton. A fine representation of this breed is given in the cut 

 of the noted ram &quot; Freeland,&quot; while that of a group of his lambs proves with what uniformity 

 the breed now repeats itself. A few facts relative to this sheep may be of interest to the 

 general farmer. 



Mr. Cooper, the former owner of &quot;Freeland,&quot; paid in 1876, eighty-five guineas ($500 

 in currency), for the rental of the then two-year old ram for the season, besides all expenses 

 of passage to and from America, including the shepherd s expenses that accompanied him, 

 the insurance, etc. On arriving from England, his weight was 425 pounds. He won several 

 prizes in England amounting to over $500, but has never been exhibited in this country 

 except at the Centennial, when he won first in his class, as well as sweepstakes as the best 



