THE PRACTICAL COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 



with deep, firm, mellow, and springy flesh evenly 

 distributed without lumpiness or rolls. The 

 wool should be uniformly long, dense, and with 

 some crimp. The yolk evenly distributed and 

 moderately abundant. 



The Shropshires and Southdowns are held in 

 especially high esteem as producers of mutton 

 and lamb of the finest possible quality in their 

 native country. The Hampshires are very pro- 

 lific, and twins at a birth is the general rule. 

 The Dorsets are noted as early lamb raisers, the 

 ewes breeding in June and July instead of in the 

 autumn as is the habit of other breeds. This, 

 of course, brings the lamb crop in November or 

 December; and as the youngsters are ready for 

 market when eleven or twelve weeks old, they 

 are very eagerly sought after to supply the fancy 

 trade, known as the " hot-house lamb " market. 

 The Dorsets possess another important charac- 

 teristic (not to be overlooked in a country where 

 dogs are allowed to run at large, often destroy- 

 ing whole flocks of valuable sheep), which is 

 that both the male and female have horns ; those 

 of the former are long, those of the latter of 



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