No. 9. 



The South-down Buck. 



281 



THE SOUTH-DOWN BUCK. 



In the Cabinet, vol 5, page 225, is the portrait of a South-down Buck of the improved 

 flock of Ellnian of Glynd, county of Sussex, England, the origin of which was, undoubt- 

 edly, a cross between the Leicester or Dishley, or Bakewell and the old Down breed, so 

 long famous as the only sheep stock grazing the very extensive range of Chalk-hills in 

 that immediate vicinity; the large size and longer staple of fleece indicating that cross; 

 suitable to deepei keep and less exposure of situation. Many individuals of this improved 

 breed have attained great weights, and a laying on of fat truly astonishing ; the last 

 steamer to Boston, — the Cambria, — bringing over a hind quarter of " real South-down 

 mutton," weiehing 40 lbs., and cutting six inches thick of fat on the rump. 



The portrait at the head of our present article, is a perfect likeness of a valuable ani- 

 mal, late the property of E. P. Prentice, Esq., of Mount Hope, near Albany, wjiose praise 

 as an excellent judge and breeder of fine stock, is in all the country. This fine Buck is 

 of the old and very pure race of the legitimate South-downs, which .still retain their pe- 

 culiarities; and, like the red cattle of the Eastern States, bid defiance to change; their 

 blood scarcely admitting of contamination by closeness of breeding; a little common care 

 in the selection of the best animals, being sufficient to secure the perpetuity of a flock, 

 that on suitable soils and under proper management, will be found the most valuable, per- 

 haps, that can be selected. They are healthy, hardy, quiet and tractable to a proverb; 

 peculiarly adapted to the folding system, which will, in all probability, be practised in this 

 extensive country, as the most convenient, as well as the most profitable, although at- 

 tended with a portion of extra labour and expense; which would, however, be found to be 

 well paid for. The old race of South-downs are still remarkable for their greater weight 

 of hind-quarter, that portion of the animal which brings the greater relative value ; and 

 it is customary to cut from such carcases those haunches, consisting of the leg and part of 

 the loin, which often command a price little less than that of stall-fed venison ; while in 

 the estimation even of epicures, they are sometimes to be preferred, abounding as they 

 do, in the " rich brown gravy, which can be properly relished, only" by those who know 

 what is really fine mutton. 



In Baxter^s Library of AgricvUure may be found a good description of these sheep. 

 The South-down breeders in England are particular as to form. The wide and deep 

 breast, projecting well forward before the fore-legs, with the rump long and broad, and 

 the tail set on high, nearly on a level with the chine, are indications of a good form and 

 pure breed. 



