MUTTON BREEDS 53 



cross-breeding and gets fine, vigorous lambs nicely 

 marked with black points. 



At present Hampshires are enjoying a great wave 

 of popularity, and justly so. In Idaho and other 

 western states, they have been taken in large num- 

 bers, and are used mainly for cross-breeding on 

 grade Merino ewes. They are adapted to condi- 

 tions where ewes can have good winter feed, can 

 lamb early and afterward go to juicy mountain pas- 

 tures. The lambs by Hampshire rams and from 

 smaller ewes are somewhat more difficult to be de- 

 livered than those by Shropshire rams, and often a 

 little personal attention may save the life of both 

 lamb and ewe. Hampshires are in use too among 

 the mountain men in Virginia who breed sheep on 

 rich bluegrass pastures. The Hampshire is not es- 

 pecially resistant to parasites, yet it is not more 

 afflicted than other down sheep, unless perhaps the 

 little Southdown may be somewhat more resistant. 

 Breed Hampshires, if eager to breed one of the 

 most marvelously fast-growing and beautiful of 

 breeds in its finished product (the fat lambs), but 

 no one should breed them who is not willing to give 

 them their due of feed and care. 



OXFORDS. 



The Oxford is in appearance a large Shropshire, 

 with a coarser and more open fleece, a larger bone, 

 usually a darker face and coarser ear. It is the 

 result of crossing the Cotswold and Hampshire 

 types, begun about the year 1833. The Oxford is a 



