192 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



or eight months' growth, might not yield a specially valuable type 

 of material. This remark would apply not only to pure Down 

 wools, but to varieties of the Down wools such as Oxford and 

 Shropshire wools, in which the ultimate and natural growth 

 being longer than in the case of the pure Downs, a longer lambs' 

 wool is naturally yielded. 



As these wools are carded, combed and spun into yarn on different 

 lines from the long lustre wools, length is not an all-important 

 factor, but reasonable length is certainly desirable. This must not 

 be obtained, however, at the cost of fineness of fibre, and it is just 

 as important in these fleeces as in the case of Lincoln, etc., that the 

 wool should be as uniform as possible. The specially curly, frizzy 

 characteristic of Down wools is of particular value in the manufac- 

 ture of certain hosiery, etc., goods, and should most certainly be 

 maintained and developed if possible. 



The remarks made with reference to black hair, etc., in the long 

 lustre wools are of equal or greater importance here, as certain 

 Down breeds are specially noted for this defect. Careful elimina- 

 tion of black individuals and of all sheep showing any tendency 

 to produce black hairs among the white should be the rule. There 

 is also supposed to be a difference in the whiteness of Oxford Down 

 as compared with Hampshire Down wool, which the writer has 

 not had the opportunity of investigating ; but it may be taken 

 as a maxim that the whitest wool is most distinctly the best, and 

 every endeavour should be made to select the whitest woolled 

 rams for breeding purposes. 



The conditions under which the Down breeds are reared no 

 doubt affect considerably the wool. The grassy downs of the 

 Southern counties are admirably adapted to this breed of sheep, 

 or rather this breed of sheep is admirably adapted to this type of 

 land. Curiously enough, however, flocks of Cheviot sheep are to 

 be noted even in the South, so that the Down breeds undoubtedly 

 have a competitor. The relative merits of the two breeds for 

 grassy slopes such as are to be found in the Cheviots and in the 

 Southern counties refer, perhaps, more particularly to the mutton, 

 and the question is probably one of the carrying properties of the 

 land : it is conceivable that three Cheviots might be more profit- 

 able than two Downs. The half-bred Down has reached York- 

 shire, but does not yet appear to have made much progress further 

 north. 



Thus it would appear that there is a marked connection between 

 the land and the sheep and the wool which may be most satis- 

 factorily produced upon it. Heavy lands seem most suitable for 

 heavy sheep producing long lustre wool, and the lighter and 

 more chalky lands seem specially adapted to the requirements 

 of the Down breeds. To select the breed most suitable for a parti- 



