80 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



came Jonas Webb, who lived north of London, at Babra- 

 ham, near the city of Cambridge. He was also one of 

 the greatest English breeders. His Southdowns had more 

 size and were a still better mutton sheep than were 

 Ellman's. As a mutton sheep, the Southdown has occupied 

 a most important place for a century or more, being still 

 considered the model sheep for that purpose. It has been 

 used to help improve more breeds than has any other. 

 Southdowns were first imported into America about 1800, 

 and since then many others have been brought here. 



The Southdown has been noted for its short, neat head, 

 which is more or less covered with wool down over the red- 

 dish-brown face. It has a short, thick neck, broad chest, 

 wide back, thick meaty leg of mutton, and short red-brown 

 legs. No other breed matures earlier, and it is not lacking 

 in hardiness. Southdowns are well suited to grazing on the 

 better class of pastures, but are not so good for the range and 

 poor pastures as are some others. The flesh is very fine of 

 grain and is not inclined to be overfat. Butchers especially 

 admire this sheep because it kills out so well, with small 

 amount of loss. The Southdown, or sheep with more or 

 less of Southdown blood, have won more prizes in fat-stock 

 shows where the carcasses were considered, than has any 

 other breed. At our great International Live Stock Ex- 

 position, the Southdown has usually won the grand-cham- 

 pionship on the dressed carcass exhibit. Mature rams weigh 

 about 175 pounds, and the ewes 135 pounds. These sheep have 

 been criticised as being too small for the American farmer. 

 The average fleece is short and light of weight, though of fine 

 quality, and this has also made the breed generally unpopu- 

 lar in America, although it is looked upon with more favor 

 in the Southern states. In spite of these criticisms, the 



