344 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE 



2. Shortwools : the Oxford Downs, Southdowns, Shrop- 

 shires, Hampshire Downs, Suffolks, Ryelands, Somerset and 

 Dorset Horned, and Clun Forest. 



3. Mountain breeds : Cheviots, Blackfaced Mountain, Herd- 

 wick, Lonk, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Welsh Mountain, and Lime- 

 stone. 



These are all English except the Border Leicester, Cheviot, 

 and Blackfaced Mountain, which are Scotch; the Welsh 

 Mountain is of course Welsh, and the Roscommon Irish. 



i. The Leicesters, the largest and in many respects the 

 most important of British longwool sheep, are the sheep 

 which Bakewell improved so greatly. They are capable of 

 being brought to a great weight, and their long fine wool 

 averages 7 Ib. to the fleece. 



The Border Leicesters are an offshoot of the last named, 

 bred on the Scottish Border, and originating from the flock 

 which George and Matthew Culley in 1767 took from the 

 Tees to the Tweed. 



The Cotswolds have been on the Gloucestershire hills for 

 ages, and have long been famous for the length of their 

 fleece, hardiness, and breeding qualities. 



The Lincoln is the result of the old native breed of the 

 county improved by Leicester blood. They have larger 

 heads and denser and heavier wool than the Leicesters, 

 averaging 8 to 9lb. to the fleece, but have been known to 

 yield 14 Ib. 



The Kentish or Romney Marsh have long existed in the 

 district whence they obtain their name, but are not much 

 known away from that locality. 



The Devon Longwool is a result of the infusion of Leicester 

 blood among the old Bampton stock of Devonshire called 

 Bampton Notts or polled sheep. 



The South Devons or South Hams are another local breed, 

 and are a result of the improvement of the South Hams 

 Notts by the Leicester. 



