LECTURE NO. 14. 



OXFORD DOWNS ORIGIN AND HISTORY, CHARAC- 

 TERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. The Oxford Downs originated in a cross of 

 Cotswold rams upon Hampshire Down ewes, and to 

 a limited extent probably on Southdown ewes. 



(1) Their cleanly cut profile, the thinner nose, the longer 

 forelock, the longer and thinner ear, and the compact form of 

 the body are derived from the Cotswold parent, and 



(2) The dark face and legs, the comparatively close fleece 

 and the good quality of the mutton are largely due to the 

 Down parentage. 



II. When improvement was effected. 



(1) These crosses cannot be traced beyond the year 

 1833, and 



(2) It is thought that no outside blood has been intro- 

 duced since 1854. 



III. How improvement was effected. 



(1) Sometimes the crosses were from one parent breed 

 and sometimes from the other, but more commonly Cotswold 

 males were used. 



(2) Those who made them at first were seeking the 

 improvement of mutton and wool qualities rather than the 

 establishment of a new breed. 



(3) After a time the improvement secured was more than 

 maintained, through judicious selection and mating. 



IV. The leading improvers of the breed. 



(i) Foremost among these is Samuel Druce of Eynsham, 

 Oxon, Oxfordshire, who commenced the work of crossing in 

 1833 or 1834. 



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