SOUTH DOWN bllEEP. 



103 



breeder, Mr. John Ellman. He says, " This breed was for- 

 merly of a small size, and far from possessing a good shape, 

 being long and thin in the neck, high on the shoulders, low 

 behind, high on the loins, down on the rumps, the tail set 

 on very low, perpendicular from the hip bones, sharp on the 

 back, the ribs flat, not bowing, narrow in the fore-quarters, 

 but good in the leg, although having big bone." 



'ira^Ail/L^i / -~^ ^ V >'' 



SOUTH DOWN. 



The improvement effected by Mr. Ellman, was not 

 from any admixture of foreign blood, " for even the cross 

 with the Leicester was a failure, and the promised advan- 

 tages to be derived from the Merinos were delusive."* It 

 resulted, mainly, from the practice of the true principles of 

 breeding ; a system of choice selection from male and fe- 

 male. The introduction of turnip husbandry was another 

 very important agent, which essentially promoted thrift and 

 size, and an early development of form. " They are now," 



* Youatt. 



