330 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



flocks, he would, by care and judgment, gradually produce a 

 more symmetrical sheep. Arthur Young, whose description has 

 been given of the breed before it had been undertaken by 

 Ellmann, thus speaks of his flock when seen in one of his later 

 tours : " Mr. Ellmann' s flock of sheep is unquestionably the 

 first in the country, the wool the finest, and the carcasses the 

 best proportioned. Both these valuable properties are united 

 in the flock at Q-lynde. He has raised the merit of the breed by 

 his unremitting attention, and it now stands unrivalled." Mr. 

 Ellmann retired in 1829, when his flock was brought to the 

 hammer, and realised prices which in those days were considered 

 extraordinary. 770 ewes of all ages averaged SI. Is. 6d. each, 

 320 lambs 36s. each, thirty-six rams 261. each, thirty-two ram 

 lambs 101. each, and 241 wether lambs made 21s. each. 



Mr. EUmann's most noticeable successor was Mr. Jonas 

 Webb, of Babraham, Cambridge, who commenced operations 

 about the year 1823, and, although we have no records, he 

 doubtless visited Grlynde, as well as other noted Sussex farms, 

 for the foundation of his flock, which eventually became, and 

 was, for many years, by far the most valuable collection in the 

 country, and the source from whence all the highest flocks 

 were invigorated. No man before or since made such prices for 

 Southdown rams, and the Babraham lettings were meets that 

 drew from far and near, and have been happily alluded to by 

 the late H. H. Dixon and others. It was never our privilege 

 to witness this celebrated farmer at home, though we well 

 remember his portly form at Shorthorn sales, when he bid with 

 pluck and judgment; and had life been spared, he would 

 probably have attained celebrity also in this direction, as he 

 was a good all-round judge. Mr. Eobert Smith, in his report 

 on the exhibition of live stock at Chester, alludes to Mr. 

 Webb's practice and success. At the outset, he purchased the 

 best ewes he could get from the leading breeders in Sussex, and 

 then, like Bakewell, set to work to remodel them into his own 

 class of " Southdowns," and, having obtained his type, main- 

 tained it by close breeding. We are not aware with what 

 degree of authority this statement is made ; probably, like 

 Bakewell, Mr. Webb observed reticence as to his practice, and 

 if he experimented the world would be none the wiser. His 



