ON BRI'^EDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 59 



South-downs, have produced sheep equal to the 

 South-downs ? Certainly not ; then why not ? 

 The nature of the food and the climate would 

 not admit of it ; and this mode of reasoning will 

 apply to every county, and almost to every farm. 



It will cost very little more to breed a ram, 

 than an ewe ; and, therefore, the farmer who in a 

 general way pays more for a ram than the extra 

 price of breeding, added to the value of an ewe, 

 pays so much to proclaim his own inability and 

 comparative ignorance. 



A striking instance of the indulgence of 

 farmers in fashion or fancy, even at a consider- 

 able sacrifice, is exhibited in the black faces and 

 legs of the South-down sheep. The great value of 

 those sheep over any other peculiar breed, consists 

 in the superior quality of their wool ; but by the 

 means adopted to preserve the black faces and 

 legs, black hairs are extended into, and some- 

 times dispersed through, the fleece ; and as the 

 locks containing black hairs, are unfit to make 

 white or light-coloured cloths, these must all be 

 thrown out, before the wool is in a fit state for 

 the manufacturer ; and the quantity and reduced 

 quality of this is such, as to reduce the value of 

 the whole fleece, ^d. per pound. 



The only object in preserving this striking- 

 mark, that I have ever heard explained, is, that 

 such sheep are more hardy; but if by this is meant. 



