SOUTH DOWN SHEEP. 105 



bones fine, yet having no appearance of weakness, and of a 

 speckled or dark color. 



" The belly well defended with wool, and the wool com- 

 ing down before and behind to the knee, and to the hock ; 

 the wool short, close, curled, and fine, and free from spiry 

 projecting fibres." 



This breed will sustain themselves with occasional short 

 keep, and endure hard stocking equal to any other ; and 

 their early maturity is but liltle ir^ferior to the new Leices- 

 ters, the flesh finely grained, and of pecuharly good flavor.* 

 Blacklock says " it is unadapted for bleak situations, but 

 sufficiently hardy and active for a low ""country." 



The average weight is from 15 to 18 lbs. a quarter ;t but 

 on the authority of Mr. Youatt, Mr. Grantham exhibited a 

 pen of three sheep at Smithfield in 1835, one of them weigh- 

 ing 283 lbs.; the second 286 lbs.; and the third 294 lbs. 



The average weight of the fleece was, in 1800, 2 lbs., and 

 the staple at that time very short : it has now increased to 

 3 lbs. ; and the lowland South Down, from better keep, 

 shears from 3 J to 4 lbs. The staple has increased from li 

 to 2 inches in length to from 3 to 4 inches. A picklock 

 fibre is the 1 -600th part of an inch in diameter, and the serra- 

 tions 2080 to an inch. For a microscopic view of the fibre, 

 the reader is referred to the proper place. 



A serious objection has always existed against English 

 South Down wools, from the brittleness of the fibre, origi- 

 nating in the chalky nature of the soil, on which a large pro- 

 portion of this breed are kept. Formerly much of this wool 

 was employed in the manufacture of army cloths ; but its 

 changed character, within a few years, has also changed its 

 uses, and it is now converted into flannels, baizes, and 

 worsted goods of almost all descriptions. The paucity of 

 serrations will prevent its uses beyond combing purposes, 

 for which it is now highly prized. 



There are no sheep more healthy than the South Downs. 

 They seldom sufTer from the hydatid on the brain, nor are 

 they as much exposed to rot as the sheep in many other dis- 

 tricts. Their general health is supposed to be much con- 

 nected with, frequent change of food, and their daily journeys 

 to and from the fold.| 



The South Downs have borne witness to a mania for their 



* Baxter. t Blacklock. t Library of Ag. Knowledge. 



