EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 419 



and general hardihood, and in adding to them the desirable qualities of 

 early maturity, disposition to lay on flesh with fat and lean properly 

 intermingled, and symmetry of form, with a most useful and valuable 

 fleece of wool." 



James Wood, of Mount Kisco, New York, who has made extended 

 examination of the districts occupied by these sheep, and given careful 

 study of them, gives us the best description of the improved Hamp- 

 shire Down and its management: His head is rather large, with a 

 Eomau face; neck long and usually well set on; shoulders sloping; 

 brisket deep, with abundant room for the vital organs ; back straight, 

 with a good spring of rib going around the barrel; loin broad; quar- 

 ters long and broad ; hams round and heavy ; legs bony and strong, 

 and feet large and open, with a tough sole and crust. The face and 

 legs are the blackest of any of the Down breeds. Gray faces are 

 avoided. The wool is of medium length and strong fiber. It is used 

 for making cheviots, tweeds, and such business cloths, and commands 

 the top prices. Flocks of breeding ewes average about 7 pounds to 

 the fleece. Mature rams weigh 300 pounds and ewes something over 

 200. The peculiar advantages claimed for the Hampshire are consti- 

 tutional vigor, a greater exemption from foot-rot than other breeds, 

 rapid growth, early development, and excellent fattening qualities of 

 the lambs; to which, last but not least, must be added that quality 

 which, in the opinion of many, gives to this sheep his greatest practical 

 value, and the one which above all others commends him to the aver- 

 age American sheep-raiser. 



Mr. Wood says : 



It is his extraordinary prepotency that power which enables him to stamp his 

 characteristics with unerring certainty npon his offspring. This is especially 

 important where the blood is crossed with common ewes, either for the sale of the 

 first cross or for grading up a flock so as to make them as good as pure bred for all 

 but breeding purposes. The first cross so strongly resembles the Hampshire that 

 n many cases it takes a good judge to distinguish them. 



The Hampshire is scarcely as prolific as the Dorset horned ewes, 

 but under good management and more even and liberal feeding the 

 yield of lambs has been increased. The ewes are usually bred from 

 for three years, and, as full-mouthed ewes, are sold at the autumn 

 fairs to breeders of early lambs, who generally put them to a Lincoln 

 or Cotswold tup and fatten the ewe and lamb together. The first 

 cross produces an animal with great aptitude to fatten, and if kept till 

 they become shearlings they carry a large quantity of mutton and wool. 



The general management of these sheep is that which prevails in 

 the south of England, where spring and grass come early. They are 

 kept in the open fields throughout the year. The breeding ewes are 

 separated by midsummer and the rams are put with them at such time, 

 from July until the middle of September, as best suits the purpose for 

 which the lambs are to be bred. Earn lambs are almost invariably used, 

 by which it is believed the early development of the breed has been 



