268 



HAMPSHIRES. 



Souihdowns were used. Armitage, in 'The Sheep,' makes no mention of Cotswold 

 blood or Leicester. Scott, in ' The Practice of Sheep Farming' the last English book 

 on sheep makes no mention of such blood. Alexander Macdonald, in the Mark Lane 

 Express of May 7, 1888, gives their origin 'from the crossing of Wilts and Hants 

 sheep, embellished by an infusion of Southdown blood.' 



"Every author who has not copied from Spooner is clear upon this point. I 

 consider the matter to be of considerable importance, as upon the fact of the local 

 origin of the breed rests the explanation of the remarkable prepotency of the Hamp- 

 shire, when used in cross-breeding. Spooner states that they have extraordinary power in 

 cross-breeding, and this is illustrated by the fact that the prizes for cross-bred sheep at 

 the great English shows almost always go to sheep with a Hampshire parentage." 



HAMPSHIRE RAM, BARON. 



One year old ; imported by JAMES WOOD, Mt. Kisco, N. Y. 



Mr. Wood further states that the average weight of breeding rams 

 in his own flock, and others with which he is familiar, might be safely 

 placed at 250 to 275 Ibs., and that his breeding ewes shear an average 

 clip of seven to eight pounds. 



The Hampshire is the Ir.rgest of the Downs families proper, and 

 has the Downs characteristics dark face and legs, and no horns. 



Although the breed has been known since near the beginning of 

 the present century, it has been only of late years that it has taken a 

 prominent place in public favor. Introduction into the United States 



