6oi 



The Romney gives a large carcase of excellent mutton, and the 

 breed is largely employed in New Zealand in raising freezers for 

 export. The Romney is not the sheep for a hot, dry country in 

 which the pasture is very scanty, consequently they have made very 

 little way in Victoria and New South Wales. 



THE DOWNS. 



Of the Down breeds of sheep I place the handsome and useful 

 Shropshires at the head of the list. It is essentially a farmer's 

 sheep, and is very frequently the sheep of the small Hock. It is of 

 quiet disposition, yields a good fleece that realises a fair price per 

 pound ; it develops early, and reaches a good weight, and its 

 mutton is excelled only by the South-down. It has spread 

 over a large area of England ; it is a favorite with the thrifty 

 fanners of the United States, and is largely used in Argentina 

 for raising freezers. It is only within the last few years that 

 this sheep has attracted the notice of Australian farmers. In 

 South Australia there are several studs of the breed, the originals of 

 which were selected regardless of price from among the iinest 

 Hocks in the old country. In Tasmania they are spreading, and 

 there is every appearance that they will become the farmer's sheep 

 of Victoria and New South Wales. 



A sheep that has attracted the favorable notice of farmers over 

 so wide and varied an area of the world's surface must have excep- 

 tionally good qualities. That this is so is acknowledged by all who 

 have raised them. In addition to their good frame, handsome 

 shape, heavy fleece, and excellency of mutton, they are remarkably 

 healthy sheep and can scarcely be excelled as foragers. 



THE SOUTH-DOWN. 



This is the original of all the breeds of British dow r n sheep. It 

 is a very handsome sheep possessing all the good qualities of the 

 Shropshire, but with a smaller frame and a lighter fleece that is not 

 quite as valuable per pound. 



The admirers of this breed contend, and with good reason, 

 that South-down mutton is of higher quality and realises more per 

 pound than the mutton of any other down breed. It is much in their 

 favor that all who have raised them become extremely fond of them. 

 Both the Shropshire and the South-down are perfect specimens of 

 mutton sheep, their legs and backs are equalled by no other breed. 



The Hampshire down is larger than the Shropshire and not 

 quite as well shaped. Its fleece shows the influence of the long- 

 wool blood and its pedigree. It has been used in Victoria and River- 

 ina for raising lambs for market, and for this purpose it has no 

 superior. The head of the Hampshire is larger than that of the 

 Shropshire, but it is not thick, and in cross-breeding with merinos 

 fewer ewes are lost than when longvvool rams are used. Still, it is 

 deemed advisable to put the Hampshire ram to comeback ewes. 



