46 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



down lias a straight back, a thick, muscular neck, 

 bespeaking vitality, a well-sprung rib, giving a ro- 

 tundity of form and a well-filled leg of mutton. The 

 character of the mutton is of the best, being fine- 

 grained, well marbled with fat and lean and tender, 

 sweet and juicy. The wool is short, thick, elastic, 

 of excellent quality, though not so abundant as in 

 some breeds. Southdowns are very vigorous, hardy, 

 ambitious, good foragers, good feeders, always fat 

 if given opportunity, more easily kept in health than 

 some breeds and the rams are excellent for cross 

 breeding, especially where early lambs are desired. 



There are not so many breeders of Southdowns 

 in America as the merit of the breed would deserve. 

 It is one of the easiest of all breeds to maintain in 

 high-class condition. There is little tendency to- 

 ward deterioration, though there is great difficulty 

 in bringing about change or improvement in type. 

 This is no doubt owing in part to the fact that the 

 breed is absolutely pure, no admixture or infusion 

 of other blood having ever taken place. Therefore, 

 there is less variation of type and it is easier to 

 have a flock of Southdowns of uniform appearance 

 and character than of most breeds. 



In Sussex the author has studied Southdown man- 

 agement on their native sod and observed these 

 features of their practice: Dry ewes in summer 

 time were often grazed on the hill pastures, but 

 under the care and observation of shepherds at least 

 part of every day. Ewes suckling lambs were in 

 hurdles eating sowed crops of clovers, vetches and 



