CROSSES AND CROSS-BKEEDING. 75 



quite satisfactory for fattening out in a few months' feeding, as in 

 the latter case there is not time for much alteration in type, and, 

 of course, no breeding is done. Then there is no need to think 

 about the perpetuation of breed features. 



With respect to the Oxford and Hampshire cross suiting the 

 counties mentioned, it is doubtless due to the greater infusion of 

 Cotswold blood purveyed through the Oxford Down ; for wherever 

 the Down is kept on the oolite it seems to be imperative that 

 there shall be some appreciable quantity of Cotswold blood. Sheep 

 with Cotswold blood in them appear to be warmer on these cold soils 

 in wintering on arable land. But there seems to be a decidedly 

 greater adaptability of Western Downs over Downs from other 

 districts, such as the Shropshire or Suffolk. Moreover, in grass 

 feeding, the Lincoln and Leicester long-wools do not thrive in 

 their pure state as well as they do farther north. The Oxford 

 Down has considerable influence over these districts, and this 

 is undoubtedly due to the fact that they produced, as a result 

 of their natural features, indigenous breeds of the heath type. 

 The results as a rule obtained from the breeds employed generally, 

 are satisfactory ; but in the general resorting of breeds that 

 is going on, such districts as these having no original extant breed 

 would stand a good chance when adopting some of the hitherto 

 less common types. - 



Two southern races which have come into great popularity 

 in recent years the Romney Marsh or Kentish, and the Exmoor 

 were considerably influenced by the Cheviot many years ago. 

 The Exmoor was dealt with by intentional importation, the Kentish 

 through the accident that, in the pre-railway days the Cheviot 

 sheep were brought by water to London, and when they met a 

 bad trade, and it was desired to avoid the river and market dues, 

 the sheep were landed on the Kentish coast, and bought by farmers. 

 Gradually, they mingled with the native sheep, and impressed 

 on them some of the heath features ; greatly improving the flesh, 

 and making it quite distinctive from that of the other long-wool 

 breeds of the rich lowlands and fens, or marshes. The cross between 

 the Southdown and the Romney Marsh sheep is very popular, 

 and extensively made, with a decided tendency to further develop- 

 ment. Other crosses are made with the bigger Down breeds, 

 but they only occasionally find popularity, though as producing 

 bigger lambs for early fattening, they are preferred by many. 

 A common verdict is that the Southdown cross is better for fattening 

 out as wethers, as so many in the South-eastern Counties are, 

 but that the bigger Down crosses should be killed fat as lambs, 

 as local graziers do not appreciate them, and butchers prefer the 

 Southdown wether cross. Long-wool crosses with the Romney 

 sheep are not generally popular with the Marsh men, but Mr. Hobbs, 



