LIVE STOCK. 337 



strongly built ; with flat backs, and broad and square behind; 

 quiet and good-tempered; much more hardy than the Leicesters, 

 though in this respect inferior to the Cheviot and the Highland 

 sheep ; capable of being driven, without injury, two, three, or 

 more miles a day, and used often for treading the new-sown 

 wheat where the soil is thin ; and doing the most ample credit to 

 any care or kindness bestowed upon them. Their wool is much 

 inferior in fineness to that of the Saxony or Merino ; but for 

 quality and amount of wool, for size and weight, for quality of 

 flesh, and for general hardiness, it would be difficult to find a 

 superior race of animals. 



Jonas Webb, Esq. of Babraharn, Cambridgeshire, whose 

 flocks and excellently-managed farm I have repeatedly seen, 

 having been kind enough to answer fully several inquiries which I 

 proposed to him, I shall give my readers the benefit of his replies. 

 No man is more competent to speak on the subject, for no man s 

 flock in the kingdom has attained a higher eminence. 



He has been a keeper and breeder of South Down sheep for 

 nearly a quarter of a century, and laid the foundation of his 

 flock by a selection from some of the best flocks in the kingdom. 

 Since he began his improvements, he has never made a cross 

 with any other breed ; and no individual has ever carried off 

 more prizes at, the various agricultural and cattle shows, where 

 the premiums are always assigned by judges who are understood 

 to be entirely disinterested, and without any knowledge of the 

 parties to whom the animals belong. 



I classed my sheep into three different tribes, according to 

 the different breeders from whom I procured them, after I had 

 made various experiments with the stock from each, varying, of 

 course, according to the frame and constitution, weight and 

 quality of mutton and wool, and the different character which I 

 might require, always keeping in view never to breed from an 

 unhealthy animal, however superior he might be in other 

 respects. I have since been rearing a fourth and a fifth tribe, 

 which I am only able to do by keeping a pedigree of each, and 

 by which means I am able to mix one tribe with another, as cir 

 cumstances and convenience may require, believing, in most 

 cases, like will produce like, with proper care and watch 

 fulness. 



&quot; I consider them to b? much hardier than either the Leicester, 

 VOL. ii. 29 



