22 THE SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY 



SHROPSHIRE SHEEP. 



The above type is well known in Australia, and is one of the 

 English breeds of short-woolled sheep. The Shropshire is noted 

 forits early maturity, and is an excellent mutton sheep. Shrop- 

 shire lambs or Shropshire cross lambs are second to none, and 

 they are very payable sheep to breed, as they are mostly purchased 

 by the export trade. Where possible, I think the Shropshire cross 

 lambs should be sold, because they grow a very inferior wool, with 

 no character, and a short length of staple, besides being very harsh 

 and wiry. 



These sheep have black points and nose. The quality of pure 

 Shropshire wool is from 56's to 58*5. The Shropshire sheep 

 have small heads, and are suitable for crossing with small-framed 

 ewes. 



SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. 



The Southdown is also one of the English short-woolled variety. 

 They are noted far and wide for the quality of their mutton, the 

 meat being very fine-grained, and having a flavour said to be un- 

 equalled by any other breed of English sheep. Southdowns are 

 polled sheep possessing black feet and faces. They mature very 

 early and are most prolific, as fully 40 per cent, of pure-bred South- 

 down ewes have twin lambs. They are hardy sheep, and will 

 thrive almost anywhere. They are not good as wool-growers, the 

 fleece being very light, possessing a spinning quality between 58*3 

 and 6o's. 



HAMPSHIRE DOWN SHEEP. 



The above breed of English sheep is not so well known as the 

 former types I have mentioned. They first made their appear- 

 ance in England about 1860. They are good, hardy sheep, able to 

 withstand the cold without any great loss of flesh, and they do well 

 on any of the root crops which farmers in this country grow for 

 their stock during the winter months. The lambs mature early, 

 and in the spring will weigh between 40 and 45 Ib. dead weight. 



