1U 



on the head ; broad, deep breast ; straight back ; a good, round bar- 

 rel ; and clean legs with strong bone. They are very hardy, thrive 

 well on moderate keep, are quickly fattened, and produce at two 

 years old, 80 to 100 Ibs., or even 120 Ibs. of excellent meat, which 

 brings the highest price from the butcher. The ewes are prolific 

 and good mothers. The fleece is heavier than that of the South- 

 down, being longer and more glossy, and weighs on the average 

 about 7 Ibs. of marketable wool. The portraits on the preceding 

 page are of some members of a flock imported from England 

 in 1874, by Mr. J. T. Hoyt, of Suisun City, California. This 

 sheep possesses many valuable qualities for our uses, and promises 

 to make a satisfactory farmer's sheep in localities where medium 

 wool and choice mutton are profitable, and where the flocks have 

 to depend upon pasture for the greater part of their support. Its 

 close, well set fleece, and hardy constitution, will also help to carry 

 it through considerable exposure and variable weather, without 

 injury. Prize rams have sold in England for $500 each, but at the 

 annual ram sales, the prices run from $50 to $150. There are sev- 

 eral flocks of this breed kept in different parts of the United 

 States and Canada, which promise to become sources of supply. 



THE SOUTHDOWN. The modern improved Southdown de- 

 scended from an old established breed of sheep, which have inhab- 

 ited the hilly portions of England from the most ancient periods 

 of known history of that country. In the southern part of the 

 Country, and in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, and 

 Dorsetshire, there is a range of low hills, underlaid with chalk, 

 which descend gradually on the south to the sea coast, and on the 

 \iorth merge into rich cultivated lands. These low hills or 

 ** Downs," have a dry soil, and are covered with a rich, sweet, 

 short, dense herbage. Upon this favorable soil the ancient breed 

 throve without special care, and when skillful breeders, emulating 

 the success of Mr. Bakewell with the Leicesters, commenced to 

 improve it, the} speedily raised its character. At first the Sussex 

 or Southdown sheep were small, and with few good points ; long 

 and thin in the neck, narrow in the forequarters, high in the 

 shoulders, low behind, sharp on the back, and with flat ribs ; their 

 only good points being a good leg. Their mutton, however, chief- 

 ly from the excellent character of their pasture, was of the best 

 flavor, and highly valued. By the careful attention of Mr. Ellman, 

 of Glynde, the defects were weeded out, and after 50 years of con- 

 stant selection of breeding animals, he brought his sheep into 

 repute and favor, as the first of the short-wool breeds. Mr. Jonas 

 Webb, of Suffolk, continued the course of improvement from 



