164 THE SHEEP. 



land. With the advancement of tillage, and the larger pro- 

 duction of turnips and other succulent plants, the breeders of 

 Sussex had the means of treating their animals well while 

 advancing to maturity ; while increased attention was given 

 to the selection of the breeding parents, and to the conse- 

 quent calling forth of those properties of form which evince 

 the tendency to arrive at early maturity of muscle and fat- 

 ness. The improvement of the South Down Breed began 

 about the period of the American war, but it received its 

 chief impulse with the commencement of the contest with 

 the French Republic, and has continued progressive until 

 the present time. Amongst the individuals most distinguished 

 as the improvers of this breed, was the late John Ellman. 

 This gentleman began his important experiments about the 

 year 1780, when he acquired possession of the farm of Glynde, 

 near Lewis, in the county of Sussex. He remained in this 

 farm more than fifty years, during which period he directed 

 his attention, in an especial degree, to the improvement of 

 the native Sheep of the Downs. He pursued his system of 

 progressive change with judgment, perseverance, and zeal ; 

 and he must be regarded as one of the most skilful and suc- 

 cessful breeders whom this country has produced. He dis- 

 played none of the too narrow selfishness which, it is to be 

 regretted, appeared in the proceedings of his distinguished 

 contemporary Mr Bakewell. He freely communicated the 

 details of his valuable practice, and shewed himself to be 

 entirely exempt from illiberal prejudices. He did not ex- 

 perience the necessity of creating, as it were, a breed, but 

 was contented to adopt the basis which was afforded him in 

 the one already naturalized in the Sussex Downs. He did 

 not carry any of his principles of breeding to an extreme, but 

 acted under the guidance of temperance and judgment. He 

 sought for the properties of health and soundness of constitu- 

 tion, as well as for those of external form, and facility of 

 fattening ; and therefore he did not, like Bakewell, confine 

 himself rigidly to the blood of his own stock, but resorted to 



