HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. 55 



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About 1829, Mr. John Twynam, as he himself afterwards 

 related to a farmers' club, used Cotswold rams. His idea 

 was to blend together the best breeds then in existence, and 

 by using an improved Cotswold sheep upon Hampshire ewes, 

 he considered that he obtained an animal which united 

 the qualities of the old Wiltshire, the Southdown, the Cots- 

 wold, and, indirectly, the Leicester. Mr. Twynam thus ex- 

 pressed himself: "You must have observed an immense 

 improvement in the character of the Hampshire sheep 

 generally (185 ), within the last fifteen years. I have had 

 my attention called to this fact frequently since I have ceased 

 to be a breeder. How has this altered character been ob- 

 tained ? Can we recognise none of the Cotswold fleece, or 

 his more symmetrical proportions? And, when I tell you 

 that in the years 1835-36 and subsequent years, I sold very 

 many half-ored lambs, and not only into Hampshire Down 

 flocks generally, but into those of six or eight of our first ram 

 breeders, whose names are to be seen at this day upon my 

 books ; when as you must be aware these breeders are in the 

 constant annual habit of selling one to another in this and 

 adjoining counties ; I trust I may, without presumption, lay 

 some little claim to having supplied a portion of the material 

 from which our present flockmasters have worked up a better 

 and more valuable fabric." 



In 1835 the sheep of both counties, and also of parts of 

 Berkshire were, to speak generally, modified Southdowns, 

 retaining some of the features of the older breeds especially 

 those of size and quality of wool ; but had not arrived at the 

 distinction of being a recognised breed. They were ex- 

 hibited at the first show of the Royal Agricultural Society of 

 Oxford in 1840 as West Country Downs, a name they long 

 retained, and were at that time something like the present 

 sheep, but smaller, looser, narrower at the fore- end, and 

 lighter in colour. 



It has been noticed that the crossing with Southdowns had 

 been going on for many years before the formation of a breed 



