22 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



the plains, and the one superior model which all breeds 

 should resemble as much as possible. Two others have 

 been selected, the one a little inferior to the Dishley, but 

 always tending towards it, constituting the type of the 

 higher ground the sheep of the south downs of Sussex ; 

 the other, inferior, in its turn, to the south downs, but 

 still somewhat similar in character, has become the type 

 of the mountainous country ; it is that which took its 

 rise in the north of Northumberland, between England 

 and Scotland, among the Cheviot mountains. 



The south downs of Sussex are ranges of calcareous 

 hills, averaging a breadth of about five miles, by sixty 

 in length, running east and west along the coasts of 

 the channel opposite to France. The beautiful town 

 of Brighton, celebrated for its sea-bathing, and which 

 every year attracts a large concourse of English fashion- 

 ables, is situated at the front of these hills, which have 

 an appearance peculiar to England ; they are entirely 

 destitute of trees, show here and there patches of heath, 

 but are otherwise covered with a fine short and close 

 grass. From time immemorial these pastures have been 

 used for feeding sheep, for which they are admirably 

 adapted ; but the ancient race of these downs was small 

 and coarse, and yielded little meat ; otherwise their 

 mutton was highly esteemed, and their wool in request 

 for certain descriptions of cloth. 



A proprietor of the district, called John Ellman, about 

 the year 1780 applied himself to the improvement of 

 this race, upon the principles which succeeded so well 

 with Bakewell in improving the long-woolled race. One 

 particular circumstance admitted of his making such a 

 trial with some chance of success ; all along the Sussex 

 hills there extends a strip of low and cultivated lands, 

 capable of furnishing, and which in effect did provide, a 



