LONG WOOLS. 69 



on the underline and down the legs, as it is thought that the earthy 

 cloggings form a pavement which carries the carcase above the 

 mud ; to some extent this does occur, but it is least effective 

 when the ground is in a miry condition, and with sheep which have 

 strains of Cotswold in them, but the wool of which has not been 

 appreciably influenced, and there is no special clogging, It is pro- 

 bably rather to constitutional influences than to mechanical ones 

 that they do so well in wet, dirty pens. The Cotswold is a 

 small breed numerically, but it has a value for crossing and 

 reinvigorating breeds, which it would be unfortunate to lose. The 

 Cotswold Flock Book was first published in 1891. 



The sheep fatten out at from ten to fourteen months at 20 Ib. 

 to 25 Ib. per quarter, though very great weights can be obtained 

 by liberal feeding. A good general average of wool for tegs to 

 cut is about 9 Ib., and the wool should be long, lustrous, and thickly 

 set, of medium fineness, with a well-defined lock, showing a wavy 

 curl ; in tegs this should measure from lOf in. to 11 in. 



THE KENTISH OB ROMNEY MARSH. 



This white-faced, long-woolled breed is derived from the in- 

 digenous breed of the Romney Marsh, and is found in a highly 

 improved state. It combines, in an exceptional degree, good 

 mutton and wool characteristics. As the breed is dealt with 

 somewhat fully in the section on the " Management of a Grass 

 Land Breed," the references here are given briefly. 



The following description of the typical Kent or Romney Marsh 

 sheep is as follows : Head wide, level between ears, with good 

 thick fore-top, no horns nor dark hair on the poll, which should 

 be well covered with wool. Eyes should be large, bright, and 

 prominent. Face in ewes full, and in rams broad and masculine 

 in appearance. Nose in all cases should be black. Neck should 

 be well set in at shoulders, and strong and thick, and not too 

 long. Shoulders wide, well put in, and level with the back. Chest 

 wide and deep. Back straight, with wide and flat loin. Rump 

 wide, long, and well turned. Tail set in almost level with the 

 chine. Thighs well let down and developed. The fleece should 

 be of even texture, and of a good decided staple, from fore -top 

 on the head to end of tail, and free from kemp. The face should 

 be white, and the skin of a clean pink colour. 



DEVON LONGWOOL. 



The Devon Longwool originated from the Southern Notts, 

 or Bampton Notts (or hornless), a long-woolled breed of Devon 

 and Somerset, white-faced, and hornless. It was very much 



