SHEEP. 



their turn ; the tares, perhaps, are 

 somewhat inferior to the others. As 

 a winter looil, the ruta baga or beets 

 come in until himbing time, but not 

 after that, lest it should produce pur- 

 ging in the lambs. 



" About the middle of October the 

 rams are admitted to the ewes, and 

 a plentiful allowance of nutritious and 

 stimuhitiuK food will have considera- 

 ble influence in increasing llu; num- 

 ber of lambs. Much to the credit of 

 the breeder, great care is taken of 

 the sheep during the lambing time. 

 The ewes are either driven home, or 

 there are sheltered places construct- 

 ed in the fields. 



" The average dead weight of the 

 South Down wether varies from eight 

 to eleven stones ; but at the Christ- 

 mas show there are usually some 

 pens in which the weight is double 

 that. The average weight of the 

 fleece used to be two pounds ; but, 

 from the altered system of manage- 

 ment, it is now at least three pounds 

 in the hill sheep), and nearly four 

 pounds in the lowland sheep. This 

 wool has likewise changed its char- 

 acter. It has become a combing in- 

 stead of a carding wool. Formerly 

 devoted to the manufacture of ser- 

 vants' clothing, or being sparingly 

 mixed with other wool, it is now used 

 for flannels, and baizes, and worsted 

 goods of ahiiost every description ; 

 thus becoming of considerably in- 

 creased value. The hogget wool is 

 particularly improved ; it is finer than 

 the other long wools, and is applica- 

 ble to many new and valuable pur- 

 poses. 



" The South Down sheep have suc- 

 ceeded admirably in all the southern 

 districts of the kingdom ; but the 

 northern hills have occasionally been 

 too cold for them. Crosses between 

 the South Down and almost every 

 breed of middle-wool sheep have an- 

 swered well ; while in counties where 

 it could have been least e.xpected, the 

 old breed is, in a great measure, su- 

 perseded by the South Downs. 



" In Kent many South Downs are 

 kept, and much prized ; but on the 

 marshes and their neighbourhood 



they have given way to the Romney 

 Marsh sheep. 



" The South Down dillcr material- 

 ly in the dilU'rent districts of Surrey. 

 In some of the lofty and barren heaths 

 a small and profitable sheep, distin- 

 guished by the name of the Bagshot, 

 still prevails. The old Wiltshire 

 sheep are occasionally seen here, 

 while the Dorsets have possessed 

 themselves of many extensive dis- 

 tricts, and are employed in supplying 

 the London market with early lambs. 

 Still, however, the South Downs are 

 numerous, and vie with any of the 

 others in excellence and proiit. 



" The old ^\'lltshire breed of sheep, 

 the largest and the heaviest of the fine- 

 woolled sheep, has gradually pass- 

 ed away. They were crossed by the 

 South Downs until every trace of the 

 old breed had vanished, and a useful 

 variety remained, which would have 

 been called true Sussex sheep, only 

 they were of a somewhat larger size 

 and lighter colour, and a lighter, finer 

 fleece. This breed is now rapidly 

 yielding to the true South Downs. 

 In the lower land pastures of Wilts 

 a breed is found evidently derived 

 from the South Downs, but larger in 

 size, and with a heavier fleece. 



" In Dorsetshire we find a very dif- 

 ferent and valuable breed of sheep ; 

 they are white, the face long and 

 broad, with a tuft of wool on the 

 forehead ; the shoulders low but 

 broad ; the chest deep ; the loins 

 broad, and the bone small : a hardy 

 and useful sheep. Their chief pecu- 

 liarity IS the forwardness of the ewes, 

 which supply the market with lamb 

 w'hen it produces the highest price. 

 If they have plenty of nutritious food, 

 the ewes will be in lamb as early as 

 April, so that the young one will drop 

 in September, and be ready for the 

 market at Christmas. 



" Tkc liijchinds. — They are small, 

 polled, with white faces, the wool 

 growing close to and almost covering 

 the eyes, the carcass round and com- 

 pact, the animal quickly fattening, 

 and the superabundant fat accumu- 

 lating within ; they are hardy, and 

 peculiarly free from disease ; they 



695 



