. DOWN AND HORN BREEDS. 35 



This early lambing, and the good and varied feeding that the 

 lambs receive until the August sales, when many are sold to be 

 wintered on roots in distant counties, ensures such growth that, 

 combined with the features of early maturity that so mark the 

 breed, it is possible to turn out heavy sheep by November and 

 through early winter. On the root land in the Home Counties 

 and South-east Midlands, as well as further afield, the Hampshire 

 is exceedingly popular in the fold. It is also largely used for 

 crossing with longwool breeds, especially where they are required 

 to be sold in the northern markets. If anything, the Hampshire 

 has developed a tendency to make rather deep fat when fattened 

 right out, and with its big weight it has not quite retained the 

 position it held in some districts a time back. Much good doing, 

 and selection to cover the face with wool which has predominated 

 over other good features in the past quarter of a century, are 

 probably accountable for some of this ; though, for fat lamb pur- 

 poses, it is not so objectionable. Many good breeders view 

 this with some anxiety, and are casting about to remedy the 

 position, especially as some smaller breeds are encroaching on 

 ground that was held by the Hampshire. The Hampshire grows 

 to heavy weight if required, and cuts a good fleece well free from 

 black hairs ; with longwool breeds it makes a good wool cross. 

 How far sacrificing the tendency to produce lean meat should 

 be indulged in favour of the fleece should be considered by those 

 interested in any breed. 



There is no doubting the fine constitution and vigour of the 

 breed ; for, of all breeds, the Hampshire not only gives the impres- 

 sion of these, but is the model of a thick-fleshed sheep, which 

 is the more notable when the thin flesh of the original stock is 

 considered. In spite of the criticism on one or two points, the 

 Hampshire is a grandly-fleshed sheep, and, under ordinary farming 

 conditions, fills an important place in the supply of high-class 

 mutton in early winter, when other Down breeds are less available. 

 Pure, or with a slight dash of Oxford, it is the mainstay of the 

 folders on roots in Herts, Beds, and contiguous counties, and 

 its aptitude to fatten whilst it grows is well marked. Relatively 

 few Hampshires are kept as wethe;s, as their early maturing 

 powers enable their being sent to the butcher whilst under twelve 

 months old very few survive to meet a second shearing. Well 

 treated, on ordinary arm practice, the tegs will go out at 8 st. 

 to 9 st. in November, but under the high pressure this breed can 

 stand greater weights can be obtained. The ewes clip about 4| Ib. 

 to 5 Ib. of wool, and shearlings 6 Ib. to 8 Ib. As the treatment 

 of this breed is dealt with somewhat fully in another section, 

 under the heading " Management of a Breeding Flock on the 

 Chalks," further details need not be given here. 



