OXFORDSHIRES. 273 



The Oxfordshire is a well made, round bodied, short legged, mutton 

 and wool combined sheep. In size it about equals the Hampshire; an 

 average weight for mature breeding rams might be placed between 200 

 and 225 pounds, while two-year-old fat wethers are frequently found 

 weighing upwards of 275 to 300 pounds. The Oxford is said to stand 

 herding upon wet or spongy range better than any other breed of sheep, 

 and from the fact that its original home at the base of the Cotswold 

 Hills was just such a wet, springy locality, we are inclined to credit the 

 statement. 



We are pleased to present the excellent portrait from life of the ram 

 Freeland, 220, and four of his sons, kindly furnished us by Mr. W. A. 

 Shafor, of Middletown, Ohio, a breeder of Oxfords, and secretary of the 

 American Oxford Down Record, to whom we are indebted for many 

 favors. Freeland was bred by Mr. Milton Druse, of Fyfield, England, 

 and at two years of age when imported by T. S. Cooper, of Cor>p- 

 ersburg, Pa. weighed 425 pounds. 



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