THE OXFORD DOWN 



567 



He also maintained that the good qualities could be better secured 

 by using crossbred animals on both sides than by using the first 

 cross. Crossing was undoubtedly continued for many years, with 

 the view of securing a sheep better suited to light farm land and 

 producing superior mutton and a heavier fleece than that yielded 

 by the pure-bred. " Mr. C. S. Read," says Wrightson, " tells us 



FIG. 262. An Oxford ram imported in 1900 by George McKerrow & Sons of 

 Wisconsin, a first-prize winner at six state fairs that year and five times sweep- 

 stakes ram. This ram is blacker and barer of face than with the present-day 

 Oxford Down. From photograph, by courtesy of the National Stockman and Farmer 



that the (flock) owner formerly divided his flock into three parts, 

 putting a half-bred ram to the ewes that were about right a 

 Cotswold to the small ones and a Down to the coarser sheep." 



It is said that the breed has " been kept distinct from either 

 parent strain" since about 1854. At this time the breed, then 

 known as New Oxfordshire, was coming into high favor. In 

 1857 the name "Oxford Down" was adopted. In 1859, in com- 

 ments in the Royal Agricultural Society Report on the sheep at 

 English shows, it is stated that some excellent sheep of this breed 



