EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 429 



lambs commenced to drop about March 1 and were fit for market June 

 1. The ewes were fit for market September 1. 



Mr. Taylor did not confine his sheep husbandry to growing lambs and 

 mutton, but formed a Southdown breeding flock not excelled in the 

 United States. In 1854 he made an importation from England, and in 

 1856 purchased fully one-fourth the sheep disposed of at Col. Morris' 

 sale in Xew York, and in November of this year received a ram and 

 four ewes from the celebrated Southdown flock of Jonas Webb. He 

 paid 8500 for the ram. 



In 1858 Mr. Taylor sold 8 rams and 2 ewes to go to California, at an 

 average of 8110 each, and the fame of his flock extended throughout 

 the whole country and sales from it were many to improve flocks in 

 every section. On July 10, 1861, the famous Southdown flock of Jonas 

 Webb was sold at auction at Babraham, England, and marked an era 

 in sheep husbandry long to be remembered. Persons to the number of 

 3,000 were present, embracing the nobility, the leading Southdown 

 breeders of England, and agents from every quarter of the globe. 

 Competition was keen and the prices higher than ever before recorded. 

 Xiue hundred and sixty-seven sheep sold for $54,610. The highest- 

 priced animal was a 2-year old ram which was bought by Mr. Taylor 

 for $1,300. He bought,* also, a yearling ram for $500 and another for 

 $275, and 5 ewes for $187.50. 



In 1862 Mr. Taylor had 75 breeding ewes, 25 of which were imported, 

 16 ewe lambs, and 17 ram lambs. His stock rams, all imported, were 5 

 in number. In September, following the English custom in that regard, 

 he had a sale and letting of his sheep. His rams rented at an average 

 of $50 each per year, and his ewes sold at an average of $37.80 each. 

 By his annual sales and lettings the Southdowns were extended 

 throughout the State, and many from his flock found their way to New 

 York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and the system of sheep husbandry 

 which he did so much to improve enriched many farmers and farms. 



Another Southdown importer of that day was George Hartshorne, of 

 Rahway, N. J. He imported the famous ram Young York and bred a 

 fine flock, descendants from which still exist in the flock of Jeremiah 

 McCain, of Mount Herman, Warren County. In 1839 Mr. McCain pur- 

 chased, in Hunterdon County, from an imported Leicester flock, a rain 

 and 2 ewes, and their descendants carried off premiums at the State 

 fair of 1884. In 1861 he bought 4 Southdown ewes of Mr. Hartshornc, 

 sired by Young York, out of imported ewes, and took these ewes 

 to Mr. Taylor's rams, and raised 6 lambs from them, thus establishing 

 a flock of Southdowns, which has carried away many premiums at 

 county and State fairs. In 1863 Mr. McCain went to Canada and 

 bought a ram and 6 ewes of the Cotswold breed, all large and fine in 

 quality. The ram clipped 13 pounds of washed wool and the ewes 9 

 pounds each. This was the foundation of Mr. McCain's Cotswold flock, 

 to which imported stock was added, and which has been bred from with 

 great success. 



