BREEDS OF SHEEP AND GOATS 



343 



elsewhere in America, for they are heavy feeders and require 

 rich pastures or forage crops in order to do their best. 



The Hampshire Down sheep, like the Southdown and 

 Oxford Down breeds, originated in southern England and 

 under much the same conditions of climate and soil. Their 

 ancestors were of two kinds, one with white faces and horns, 

 and the other with dark faces and horns. Southdown blood 

 was mingled with these two, from which came the more im- 

 proved Hampshire, without horns and with an almost black 

 face, ears, and legs. William Humphrey was the most im- 

 portant early improver of these sheep, and, later, James 



Figure 146. Hampshire ewes on farm W. J. Cherry, Ohio, 

 the author. 



Photograph by 



Rawlence did much for them. The Hampshire is one of 

 the largest breeds, mature rams often weighing over 250 

 pounds, and ewes nearly 200 pounds. The head is" one of 

 the striking features of the breed. The nostrils, lips, and 

 face are quite black; the nose is very strong, or Roman in 

 character; and the ears are dark, very large, and incline for- 

 ward in a heavy style. Wool rarely extends much beyond 

 the forehead. The body is large, and the form is of the 

 usual mutton type. Hampshire sheep often seem some- 

 what coarse of bone and large of limb. The fleece, which 

 grades as three-eighths or quarter-blood, is about 4 inches 



