586 BREEDS OF LOWLAND LONG-WOOL SHEEP 



allotted period, and prizes awarded to the most useful 

 sheep. 1 



The South Devon Long-wool, or "South Dum," is an 

 ancient local breed of conspicuous merit, the principal breed 

 in Cornwall, and very largely met with in Mid- Devon. It 

 has been recently brought into prominence by the formation, 

 in 1903, of the South Devon Flock Book Association, and the 

 issue of the first volume of the Flock Book in 1904. E. H. 

 Hoskin, of Cartuther Barton, Liskeard, is credited with taking 

 the lead in establishing the Association. The particulars 

 of no less than 129 flocks, and a list of 161 members, are 

 recorded. Many of the foundation flocks date back to con- 

 siderably over a century, although many had been established 

 within twenty years. It is claimed that the South Devon sheep 

 possesses great robustness of constitution, is large, symmetri- 

 cal, and well-grown, with plenty of bone and muscle ; vigorous 

 and thrifty, and equally adapted to the fold or to grazing 

 land ; a rapid feeder, and one that readily responds to liberal 

 treatment, but able to thrive upon hard fare and in exposed 

 places. The fleece is of great merit a long staple of lustrous 

 wool, curly and dense on the pelt, and free from kemp. The 

 head is broad and rather long, and rough with wool ; the ears 

 fairly long, of medium thickness, covered with hair, often 

 spotted. The carcase is noted for being full of lean meat, and 

 for good development of the valuable parts. The Smithfield 

 records of 1902 are ample evidence of the early maturity of the 

 breed. The first pen of wether lambs gave the average daily 

 gain per head of 1 1.46 oz. from birth, and the premier pen 

 of wethers 7.57 oz. each. The South Devon differs from the 

 Devon Long-wool in being larger, and in having a heavier fleece. 



The Devon Long-woolled sheep is a local breed which is 

 likely to become better known to the foreign buyer as a 

 result of the establishment of a Flock Book, the first volume 

 of which appeared in 1900. Low's Domesticated Animals of 

 the British Islands (1845) shows that the breed was formed 

 from two originally distinct breeds of great size, but coarse, 

 inferior quality, by crossing with the improved Leicester, 



1 See the Kent County Examiner and Ashford Chronicle, September 

 27, 1895. 



