194 HAMPSHIRE SHEEP. 



Hampshires what Ellman and Webb did for the Southdowns 

 and Bakewell for the Leicesters. He gave them a fixed type 

 and made them one of the most profitable kinds of sheep. 



He procured Southdown rams of Webb breeding and crossed 

 them on Hampshire ewes, being careful in both cases to make 

 such crosses as would bring about the desired results, and 

 then by judicious selection and further crossing he was able 

 to bring out in a few years the Hampshire of today, a sheep 

 large in size, of the true mutton form, and at the same time 

 bearing a fair-sized, medium length fleece of good quality 

 wool. Other breeders have followed after Mr. Humphrey's 

 example and have maintained the admirable qualities of the 

 Hampshire, striving at all times to improve its form, wool 

 and .prolificacy. 



In the improvement of the Hampshires as well as that of 

 Leicesters and other breeds the element of feed must not 

 be forgotten. During the period in which this was being 

 effected the down lands were enclosed and put under cultiva- 

 tion. Large quantities of rape, rutabagas, mangels, sanfoin 

 and other crops, such as rye and vetches, were raised. These 

 afforded excellent food for sheep and did much in increasing 

 the flesh producing qualities of the flocks of the Downs. 



Besides occupying a prominent place in the counties of 

 southern England the Hampshire has been distributed in fair 

 numbers over a number of the states of the Union and Ontario 

 and Quebec, provinces in Canada. Before the Civil War they 

 were brought to Virginia, but during the strife from '61 to '65 

 the flocks there were scattered and many of their descendants 

 may now be found in the hills. New York, Michigan, Penn- 

 sylvania, and Ohio farmers possess these sheep in the largest 

 numbers. In 1889 the Hampshire Down Breeders' Association 

 of America was formed to look after the interests of the 

 breed, and in 1890 the Hampshire Down Flock Record was 

 first issued. 



The Hampshire Downs are large in size, being second only 

 to the Oxfords of the Down breeds. They are very early 

 maturing and because of this they are valuable for early lamb 

 production. They give excellent results in crossing on ewes 

 of a small, compact nature. They are good milkers and so 

 feed their lambs well, and as good milking qualities and pro- 

 lificacy go together, it may be claimed for them that they 

 yield a high average percentage of lambs. 



