354 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



The weight of wool for a whole flock will average about 71b. 

 per sheep ; rams have been known to cut as much as 201b. 

 when shearlings. Great numbers of shearling and ram lambs 

 are now sold by public as well as private sale. The principal 

 breeders who of late years have distinguished themselves at the 

 Eoyal and other meetings are the Duke of Marlborough, the 

 Earl of Jersey, Countess of Camperdown, Sir H. W. Dash wood, 

 Bart., Sir John Shelley, Bart., Messrs Wallis, Treadwell, 

 Howard, Druce, Eogers, Stilgoe, Hobbs, Longland, Street, 

 Parker, G. Adams, G. H. Morrell, H. Gale, Pratt, W. Arkell, 

 H. Barnett, R. Dickens, W. Cooper, W. H. Fox, J. Worley, E. 

 Gillett, R. W. Hobbs, C. Hobbs, jun., J. Miles, C. Chappell, H. 

 Overman, and J. Case. There are other breeders who, although 

 regardless of showyard honours, meet with a good sale for their 

 sheep. At the ram fair at Oxford, held annually (the second 

 Wednesday in August), there are large numbers of Oxfordshire 

 Down rams disposed of at remunerative prices, and comprise 

 specimens from the flocks of Messrs. Roberts, Gillett, Bryan, 

 Franklin, Gale, Chillingworth, Button, and others. They find 

 a ready sale, not only in the home counties, but in Scotland, 

 Ireland, and several countries on the Continent. Most satis- 

 factory prices have been realised recently, rams having changed 

 owners at from forty to sixty guineas each. The cross with the 

 Hampshire ewe for early fat lamb for the London market has 

 been for some years, and is still, in favour with several flock- 

 masters. 



The Oxfordshire sheep are adapted more particularly for 

 mixed soils, and stand close stocking and confinement ; that is, 

 they can be kept entirely in hurdles, and will probably do better 

 so than if allowed a range. The different sorts of food usually 

 grown on the '* mixed soils," so as to keep them as much 

 as possible on the arable land, are as follows : " January 

 — kohl rabi, swedes, and turnips ; February — the same ; March 

 the same, and mangold wurzel ; April — mangold wurzel, winter 

 oats, rye, and trefoil ; May — trifolium and vetches ; June — 

 vetches ; July — the same, and clover ; August — the same, and 

 cabbage ; September — cabbage and rape ; October — rape, early 

 turnips, and mustard ; November — turnips and kohl rabi ; 

 December — kohl rabi and swedes. 



