HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. 6l 



Middleton Farm, Warminster. Other early breeders have 

 already been mentioned, and others are, no doubt, equally 

 worthy of notice. 



The Improved Hampshire Down sheep is the heaviest of all 

 the Down breeds, and is only excelled in weight by the 

 Lincoln, and occasionally by the Cotswold, among the long- 

 woolled races. Its extreme earliness of maturity is well 

 known ; and although it has recently been contested that the 

 Cotswold may be brought up to as great a weight, or even 

 greater, by careful feeding from birth, the entire habit of the 

 Hampshire sheep is more in favour of early maturity than any 

 other largely-distributed breed. The fact that Hampshire 

 ram lambs are habitually sold for service at seven and eight 

 months old illustrates this fact. The rapid growth of the 

 lambs is most striking to witness, and one pound increase per 

 day is a record which could be surpassed any year in par- 

 ticular cases. The late Mr. Coleman, of the Field, pointed out 

 that the Cotswold did not appear to advantage as a lamb, but 

 with the Hampshire it is just the reverse, as he appears at the 

 greatest perfection in July or August, when about seven to 

 eight months old. Those who wish to see what these lambs 

 can do would find a visit to Salisbury Fair in July in- 

 teresting. 



The Hampshire Down has been accused of carrying an 

 ugly head, but this defect, however common in years gone 

 by, is now remedied. The ram lamb can scarcely be too 

 dark in feature for the tastes of buyers, but this must be 

 accompanied with white wool. A dark tinge around the poll 

 will consign a sheep to a low price at once, but dark features 

 and a fair fleece might elevate the same sheep into the region 

 of keen competition. The ears must be free from any mottled 

 appearance, and should in summer be like a bat's wing. The 

 shanks also should be of rich dark brown colour, and free 

 from mottled appearance. Some distinguished breeders 

 nave held a position in spite of a certain lightness of tint, but 

 no light-faceb sheep finds favour around Salisbury, which is 

 the capital of the breed. 



