89 



larger and plainer animal, with speckled face and ears, was produced 

 The modern Hampshire now occupies large areas of Berks, Hants, 

 Dorset and Wilts, while " many pure flocks also exist in Gloucester- 

 shire, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Herts, Cambridge, Essex, 

 Norfolk, Bedford, and the Midlands generally. A strong point in 

 the breed is that it is adapted for the high-lying and barren uplands 

 of the chalk, where holdings are large, and flocks number from 

 1,000 upwards." Separate classes for the breed at the Royal 

 Agricultural Society's Show were first provided in 1861. 



Value for Fattening. The Hampshire is a lower-set, more 

 substantial, stronger-boned and somewhat coarser-looking sheep 

 than the Shropshire. The most striking features of the breed 

 are early maturity and stiitability for high feeding and close 

 folding on arable land. The lambs are often forced to great 

 weights at a very early age by heavy feeding on roots and autumn 

 sown forage crops. Ewes on the better classes of farm are often 

 allowed 1 Ib. each per day of good concentrated food until the 

 lambs have learned to eat, when it is gradually taken from 

 the ewe and given to the lamb. A ram lamb born in J anuary may, 

 with liberal feeding on green forage reach 150 Ib. live weight in 

 August. Lambs in flocks kept for commercial purposes are 

 usually dropped in January or February, and well-bred animals will 

 weigh up to 113 Ib. at the end of May. Of this about 68 Ib., or 

 60 per cent., will be dressed carcase. The mutton is of good 

 quality, lean, and firm to the touch. 



Characteristics of the Breed. The head of the ram should be 

 large but not coarse, free from horns or scurs and of a bold 

 masculine character ; the face and legs a uniform dark brown or 

 almost black. The average weight of washed fleece is 4^ to 5 Ib. 

 for ewes and 6 to 8 Ib. for yearlings ; the wool should be free 

 from black patches and grow close up to and round the ears and 

 over the forehead, dense and fine over the body, white when shed. 

 The low-set ears are a good size, inclined to be thick but not 

 coarse ; more tapered than those of the Southdown, and free from 

 light specks. The hind quarters are particularly full and well 

 carried out, and the shoulder is exceptionally wide. 



Owing to the early maturity of Hampshires, more ram lambs 

 than older sheep are used as sires, and in addition to the rams 

 required for. service in pure flocks, large numbers are used for 

 crossing with other breeds for the production of fat lambs. 



Hampshire Down Classes at the Smitlifield Shotv, 1902-1911. 



