114 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



indebted to Richard S. Fay, Esq., of Lynn, for this splendid 

 breed of sheep. 



Preparing to return to this country after a residence of some 

 years in Enghmd, and with a thorough acquaintance with all 

 the British breeds, he, with Hon. "Wm. C. Rives, of Virginia, who 

 also imported a flock for himself, selected this as the most 

 desirable sheep, combining with the best meat-producing quali- 

 ties a superior fleece of wool. Several lots were afterwards 

 imported for David Scars, Jr., of Boston, and for himself. 



The Oxford Downs have gray faces and legs, not quite so dark 

 as the South Downs, head fine, and well set; small bone, deep 

 brisket, round hams, good flat back ; hips wide, and tail set up 

 high ; belly straight ; buttock square, legs rather short and fine, 

 and twist full ; the loin is very wide and deep, and a wide 

 spread between the hind legs for the development of the udder, 

 indicates good milkers. They are exceedingly gentle, quiet 

 and orderly, never jumping and not inclined to ramble ; they 

 are hearty feeders, and will thrive on any thing given to them, 

 and bear better than any other large sheep, scanty pasturage. 

 The ewes very commonly have twins and suckle them both ; the 

 lambs thrive very fast, often reaching 100 pounds in five months 

 on nothing but milk and grass. A yearling ram from Mr. Fay's 

 flock gained 15 pounds in three weeks, and a ram-lamb weighing 

 85 pounds at five months, or six months, weighed 105, on nothing 

 but grass. A yearling ram seventeen months old, imported this 

 season by Mr. Fay, weighed just off the ship, 250 pounds, and 

 at twenty-one months old, 800 pounds ; and a five-year-old ram of 

 this breed weighed this spring, 300 pounds. Mr. Fay's ewes 

 weigh from 150 to 180 ])ounds. 



The fleeces are thick and heavy, and find a ready market, 

 the wool being of a very desirable quality for certain fabrics. 

 Mr. Fay's flock averaged over seven pounds of unwashed wool, for 

 which he got thirty-four cents per pound. Mr. Druce, a celebrated 

 English breeder, in a letter in the " Royal Agricultural Society's 

 Journal," and Mr. Roberts a large breeder, say that their 

 wethers usually go to market at thirteen or fourteen months 

 old, dressing from 80 to 88 pounds, and shearing from 7 to 10 

 pounds. Their ewes weigh from 100 to 140 pounds ; they are 

 good mothers, and produce a large proportion of twins ; they 

 arc seldom attacked by any disease. As a breed from which to 



