64 SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



food is abundant, and must in less fortunate circumstances be 

 provided with hired keep off the farm. 



The constant use of hurdles points to an artificial system of 

 feeding, and there is no doubt that sheep-farming upon the 

 Hampshire and Wiltshire hills is a much more complicated 

 business than the same pursuit upon the hills of Scotland 

 or Wales, or even of Yorkshire and Northumberland. The 

 character of the land and of the climate of these southern 

 counties favours a system of double cropping with fodder crops 

 followed with roots, and this, when assisted with large im- 

 portation of cake and corn, and the ability of the Hampshire 

 sheep to stand close folding, is the secret of the large number 

 of sheep maintained. 



The latest development in the history of the Hampshire 

 Down is the establishing of a society for the promotion of the 

 breed and the regulation of a flock-book. A preliminary meet- 

 ing, held during the Smithfield Club Show in 1889 in London, 

 was largely attended by breeders from many counties, and the 

 feeling seemed to be unanimously in favour of the formation 

 of such a society. It was felt that this step was chiefly neces- 

 sary in the interests of the foreign trade, and that the Hamp- 

 shire men ought not to be behind other breeders in this matter. 

 The large size of the flocks is the chief difficulty in recording 

 pedigrees. What may be easy when 150 to 250 ewes are kept 

 might prove troublesome on farms carrying from 500 to 1,000 

 ewes. 



For crossing purposes the Hampshire is exceedingly useful. 

 It was by the alliance of a Cotswold ram to Hampshire Down 

 ewes, and also, I believe, by adopting the reverse course, that 

 the foundation of the Oxford Down was laid by the late Mr. 

 Druce, of Eynsham. 



The simple cross between Cotswold and Hampshire is fre- 

 quently made for producing wethers, and the result is an 

 increase in quality of mutton and of lean flesh, as well as of 

 wool. Every year large numbers of rams find their way into 

 Lincolnshire and the midlands for crossing with long-woolled 



