26G BREEDING AXD CROSSIXG. 



native breed." This is applicable to the Lincoln, Cotswold, 

 and Romney-marsh breeds. The mutton of the Leicester 

 (on the authority of ^Ir. Spooner) is by no means so good 

 as the South Down, which, however, is partly, not wholly, 

 owing to the early period (twenty months) at which they are 

 fit for the butcher, and partly to the very large proportion of 

 tallow compared to the lean. Thus it is not a favorite in the 

 London markets, and accordingly, of late years, the first cross 

 between the Leicester and the Down has been produced 

 instead of the Leicester ; and it is contended that this cross 

 is the most profitable sheep that can be fattened, making 

 greater and more rapid progress than the Down, and better 

 meat than the Leicester. 



In the history of the South Down the reader is made aware 

 that between the original Down and the Improved there is a 

 wide diflTcrence, the latter possessing most of the important 

 requisites which constitute the perfect mutton sheep. With 

 a propensity to fatten inferior only to the Leicester, but with 

 later maturity, this breed are good travellers, hardy compared 

 with the Leicester, and capable of thriving on short pas- 

 ture. Their mutton is second only to the mountain breeds 

 in fineness of flavor, and instead of their fat being concen- 

 trated as in the Leicester, it is dispersed through the flesh, 

 or " well mattled," according to the butcher's phraseology. 

 Mr. Spooner says, " Nothing can aflbrd a better proof of the 

 sterling qualities of this breed than the fact that some twenty 

 years since, the price of South Down wool rendered the 

 fleece a matter of great importance ; and now, although the 

 price is reduced to one third, and it can never expect to real- 

 ize much advance, yet, notwithstanding this, the valuable 

 qualities of the animal, and the improvements that have been 

 made, have enabled the breed still to retain a foremost rank 

 in public favor." 



The South Down ram is extensively employed at the pres- 

 ent day in Great Britain for perfecting the more inferior 

 breeds, and with the long-wooled sheep to produce a first 

 cross, the mutton of which is so highly esteemed. A dis- 

 tinguished breeder in Hampshire some years since crossed 

 the improved Cotswold ewe with the Down ram, and to such 

 perfection has he brought the product, that he now challen- 

 ges all England to produce a breed that will yield larger 

 returns. The Down is evidently making rapid progress in 

 the estimation of American breeders, and thus far, the cross 



