THE HAMPSHIRE OR WEST COUNTRY DOWN SHEEP. 339 



management tlie wether or sale lambs arrive at great size, and 

 realise higli prices at early fairs. 



Under tlie present higli prices of mutton, the best wether 

 lambs, which had heretofore been sold in July, August, and 

 September, to be fattened in Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex, 

 Hertfordshire and Essex, for the London markets in February, 

 March, and April following, are now for the most part taken for 

 immediate slaughter, and the second-class animals have taken 

 their places in the districts named for winter feeding. This fact 

 indicates how greatly during the last few years the stock of 

 mutton existing in the country has been decreased by larger 

 consumption or other causes. 



In the years 1848, 1849, 1850, the statistics of flocks in the 

 neighbourhood of Salisbury, numbering 10,000 sheep, gave the 

 following results : Yield of lambs, 91 per cent. ; mortality of 

 ewes, 5*5 per cent. ; mortality of tegs or hogs, 3 per cent, per 

 annum. This breed of sheep is scarcely so prolific as the 

 Dorset horned ewes, but under good management and more 

 even and liberal feeding, the yield of lambs has certainly been 

 increased. 



The wool is of fine quality but short staple ; the average 

 growth may be taken at 4Jlb. per sheep. If the existing higher 

 price of the long staple wools over these finer descriptions 

 should be likely to be permanently maintained, we have little 

 doubt but that the length and character of the Hampshire Down 

 wool might be modified to meet the requirements of the manu- 

 facturer, without sacrificing their admirable qualities as pro- 

 ducers of mutton. 



The ewes are usually bred from for three years, and as full- 

 mouthed ewes are sold at the autumn fairs to breeders of early 

 lambs, who generally put them to a Lincoln or Cotswold tup, and 

 fatten the ewe and lamb together. This first cross produces an 

 animal with great aptitude to fatten, and if kept till they 

 become shearlings they carry a large quantity of mutton and 

 wool. 



The altered system of farming on the chalk formation of 

 Wilts, Hants, Berks, and Dorset, and the introduction of the 

 improved Hampshire Down sheep, has led to a very consider- 

 able increase of mutton and wool per acre during the last fifty 



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