492 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK iv. 



As a matter of fact Southdowns of the coarser type were used certainly 

 by Messrs. Druce and W. Gillett, and probably by most of those who 

 followed their example. 



Mr. Clare Seweli Read, in his report on the " Farming of Oxford- 

 shire," published in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society in 

 1854, refers to the Oxford Downs as " the glory of the county the 

 most profitable sheep to the producer, the butcher, and the 

 consumer." 



The extension of the popularity of Oxford Downs is indicated by the 

 entries in the second volume. The 65 flocks separately entered as 

 against 54 in Volume I. represent at least fifteen English counties, 

 as well as Scotland and Wales. The breed is now largely kept in 

 Norfolk, where it' seems to be rapidly taking the place of the old 

 half-breds of the district, and it finds a home in increasing numbers 

 in Cornwall. Oxford Downs flourish alike in the warm counties of the 

 South and West and on the bleak hills of Aberdeenshire. In fact they 

 adapt themselves to all climates and circumstances. The rams are in 

 great demand for Germany, where no other breed answers so well for 

 crossing with the Merinos. Their popularity yearly increases in the 

 United States, while rams have also been sent to Buenos Ayres and 

 Brazil, as well as to Australia and New Zealand. 



Oxford Downs may fairly be called the " general purpose " sheep. 

 At any rate they are very accommodating. They can be sold as fat 

 lambs at from 5 to 8 stones, or as fat tegs at from 10 to 12 stones. In 

 short, if they are kept well from birth, they can be sold at any weight 

 which suits the market ; but at Islington the butchers buy most freely 

 those which do not exceed 9 stones. For early maturity, leanness of 

 meat, fine and heavy fleeces, hardiness of constitution, and good grazing 

 propensities, their merits are undeniable. 



A good Oxford Down ram (fig. 121) may be described broadly as 

 follows : He has a bold masculine head, well set on a strong neck ; the 

 poll is well covered with wool and adorned by a top-knot ; the ears are 

 self-coloured and of good length; the face is a uniform dark-brown 

 colour; the legs are short, dark-coloured (not spotted), and placed well 

 outside him ; the barrel is deep, thick, and long, with straight underline ; 

 the chest wide ; the back level ; ribs well sprung : tail broad and well 

 set on ; the mutton is firm, lean, and of excellent quality ; the fleece is 

 heavy and thick on the skin. 



In fig. 122 we give an illustration of a group of Oxford Down ewe 

 lambs bred by Mr. Hugh W. Stilgoe, of Addisbury, Banbury, which won 

 the first prize at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Lincoln in 

 1907. 



THE SHROPSHIRE breed (figs. 123 and 124) resembles, in many of its 

 characteristics, the Southdown, although in fleece and in carcass it is 

 heavier, and in constitution more robust. 



In some of the counties bordering on Herefordshire, both in England 

 and Wales, there was a breed of sheep very much resembling the 

 Ryelands, and known as the Shropshire Morfe. They carried wool of 



