110 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



served their blood in purity. In wciglit of wool, size, sound- 

 ness and hardiness of constitution, they far excel the Leices- 

 ters. The sacrifice of the secondary properties, which Bake- 

 well did not hesitate to make, is avoided, and the present feel- 

 ing of breeders is to maintain a larger and more robust form 

 to the animals. Thus, the Cotswold, though inferior in form 

 to the New Leicester, is maintaining a successful rivalry with 

 it in many parts of Great Britain, wiiere a heavier fleece is 

 preferred. Beside the qualities before stated, the Cotswold 

 ewes are inclined to be prolific, often dropping twins, and are 

 good nurses ; their wool is strong, of a good color, rather 

 coarse, but of a mellow quality, usually weighing seven or 

 eight pounds ; they make excellent mutton, and at two years 

 old weigh from 25 to 35 pounds per quarter. A Cotswold ram 

 has weighed 374 pounds, and sheared from 17 to 18 pounds. 

 The Cotswolds may be thus described : they are large, the skin 

 thick and covered with good coarse wool ; the head long and 

 rather thin, face and legs white, the ears wide, and not too thin 

 and not covered with wool, but having a tuft on the foreliead, the 

 wool comes down to the knee and hock, and covers the neck and 

 chops; head well set on, back straight, deep brisket, and good 

 barrel. Tiiey were first imported into this country about 1828 

 and since that time have been largely brought from Canada, many 

 from the farm of Mr. F. W. Stone, of Guelph, Canada "West, one 

 of the most successful breeders of the Cotswold, South Down and 

 New Leicester sheep, and short-horned cattle on this continent. 



NEW OXFORDSHIRE, OR IMPROVED COTSWOLD. 



In the county of Oxfordshire, England, they have for some 

 years crossed the Leicester into the Cotswold, making a very large 

 and handsome sheep, termed the. New Oxfordshire, or improved 

 Cotswold. These sheep are large, with a very white, open 

 fleece, of moderately fine wool ; they are liked by those that 

 own them ; they resemble the New Leicester in appearance, 

 though larger, and if they do not draw from that side the 

 objectionable characteristics of the Leicester, Avill prove a 

 profitable and desirable introduction ; they should not be con- 

 founded with the Oxford Downs, which have dark faces and 

 legs. IMr. Lawrence jSmith, of !Middlefickl, who has bred them 

 for over eight years, writes: " I doubt whether they are as 



