1026 



CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



good in their mutton as the South-Downs, 

 der good keep, will weigh 100 pounds ei 

 seven pounds of excellent combing wool. 



The lambs at a year old, tin- 

 3h, and the fleeces give six to 

 The mutton is not overloaded 



with fat, and is Juicy and excellent in flavor. The Hampshire-Downs 

 are a hornless breed with black face ; roman nose ; large head ; the 

 whole frame massive niid compact; the barrel round and the limbs 

 strong and short. 



XII. Shropshire-Downs. 



The original of the Shropshire-Downs is an old English breed which 

 were kept on what was known as Marfe common, a tract of some 600,- 

 OCO acres. They were horned ; black or brown faced ; hardy, and con- 

 stitutionally excellent; yielding a medium fine fleece, of about two 

 pounds weight ; and about fifty pounds of excellent mutton when ma- 

 ture. Crossed with the Cotswold in the latter part of the last century, 

 and later with the Leicester and South-Down, careful selection has pro- 

 duced a sheep without horns ; faces and legs of a peculiar spotted gray 

 or darker color ; small, firm head ; handsome ears ; thick but handsome 

 neck ; broad deep breast — a round-barreled, broad-backed, fine-horned 

 sheep, that at two years old, will dress 100 pounds, and under extra feed 

 120 pounds, of excellent mutton. The fleece is long, glossy and will 

 yield about seven pounds of washed wool. The ewes are prolific and 

 good mothers, and wherever known iu the United States and Canada, 

 Are highly urized . 



