- 491 ~ 



called Suffolks. The breed has made rapid strides since 1886, 

 when it secured breed classes at the Royal Agricultural Society's 

 Show and the Suffolk Sheep Society was established. 



THE OXFORD DOWN SHEEP. The Oxford Down breed was formed 

 about 1830 by mating improved Hampshire ewes and a few South- 

 downs with Cotswold rams, the aim being " to secure the superior 

 quality, and therefore a higher price per pound, of the mutton as 

 compared with longwoolled sheep, and the superior weight of wool 

 and of mutton as compared with short-woolled sheep." 



The wool is longer and looser than that of any other Down 

 breed, and ought to be classed as long-wool. The fleeces of ewes 

 average 6 or 7 Ib. each. 



Oxford Down rams were first introduced into the Scotch 

 Borders by the late Walter Elliott of Holly-bush, Galashiels, about 

 1867, and it is now found that they have no equal in producing 

 crosses for hogging by Leicester-Cheviot ewes, and that they also 

 cross well with Border Leicester ewes. The cross progeny of the 

 Oxford ram is slower in reaching maturity than the progeny of the 

 Border Leicester, but it can be fed to greater weights in spring, 

 65 to 68 Ib. per carcase, without becoming too fat to be classed as 

 finest quality. About a thousand Oxford Down rams are now sold 

 annually in September under the auspices of the Border Union 

 Society at Kelso. 



The following list of Sheep-Breeding Societies, in Great Britain 

 is published by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, together 

 with indications on shows, prices, etc. 



