MODERN SHEEP: BBEEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 4! 



rather slow in feeding, they were excellent folding sheep, and 

 enabled more corn to be grown in Wiltshire, in proportion to its 

 size, than in any other county in England. These Wiltshires .have 

 now (1837) passed quite away.' They were crossed 'again and 

 again' with the Southdowns, until every trace of the old breed dis- 

 appeared, 'and a useful variety of the Southdowns remained only 

 distinguished from the Sussex sheep by somewhat larger size, lighter 

 colour, and a lighter and finer fleece. The last flock of the old 

 Wiltshire horned breed disappeared about 1819 (Rawlence). 



"According to Mr. E. P. Squarey, 'the Hampshire breed orig- 

 inated in a cross between the old Wiltshire horned sheep, as well 

 as the Berkshire Knot, with the Southdown. From 1815 to 1835 

 the Downs of North Hants and those of South Wilts were very 

 different. The Wiltshire Down was larger, perhaps less handsome, 

 and not so uniform with respect to color as those of Hampshire, 

 and a ewe with a speckled face and ears was not always drafted.' 



"About 1829, Mr. John Twynam, as he himself afterward re- 

 lated to a farmers' club, used Cotswold rams. His idea was to. 

 blend together the best breeds then in existence, and by using an 

 improved Cotswold sheep upon Hampshire ewes, he considered 

 that he obtained an animal which united the qualities of the old 

 Wiltshire, the Southdown, the Cotswold, and, indirectly, the Lei- 

 >ester. Mr. Twynam thus expressed himself: 'You must have 

 observed an immense improvement in the character of the Hamp- 

 shire sheep generally, within the last fifteen years. I have had my 

 attention called to this fact frequently since I have ceased to be 

 a breeder. How has this altered character been obtained? Can 

 we recognize none of the Cotswold fleece, or his more symmetrical 

 proportions ? And, when I tell you that in the years 1835-36 and 

 subsequent years, I sold many half-bred lambs, and not only into 

 Hampshire Down flocks generally, but into those of six or eight 

 of our first ram breeders, whose names are to be seen at this day 

 upon my books ; when, as you must be aware, these breeders are in 

 the constant annual habit of selling one to another in this and 

 adjoining counties, I trust I may, without presumption, lay some 

 little claim to having supplied a portion of the material from 

 which our present flockmasters have worked up a better and more 

 valuable fabric.' 



"In 1835 the sheep of both counties, and also of parts of Berk- 

 shire, were, to speak generally, modified Southdowns, retaining 

 some of the features of the older breeds especially those of size 

 and quality of wool but had not arrived at the distinction of 

 being a recognized breed. They were exhibited at the first show of 

 the Eoyal Agricultural Society of Oxford in 1840 as West Country 

 Downs, a name they long retained, and were at that time something 

 like the present sheep, but smaller, looser, narrower at the fore- 

 end, and lighter in colour. 



