THE HAMPSHIRE DOWN 



407 



New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Hungary, Portu- 

 gal, Jamaica, and elsewhere. In England the breed is found in 

 a score of counties, though chiefly in Hampshire, Wiltshire, 

 Dorset, Sussex, Surrey, and vicinity. In the United States it 

 has a small local distribution, being most common in New York, 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, where prominent flocks are 

 kept. Small flocks also are kept in Canada, in Ontario and 

 Quebec. The breed is suited to rolling lands producing abun- 

 dant grazing, rather than hilly country. 



Hampshire sheep associations exist in England and America. 

 The Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders' Association of England 

 was organized in 1 889, and has published seventeen volumes of the 

 flock book. Volume XIV shows a membership of 360 and the 

 registration of 2 1 2,000 head in flock form, of which about 2 10,000 

 are females. The Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders' Association 

 of America was also organized in 1889, the first flock book being 

 published in 1890. Up to 1905 eight volumes have been issued 

 and 4900 rams and 1 1,501 ewes recorded. 



The prices received for Hampshire sheep, especially in England, 

 present a high average. In 1903 Waters and Rawlence sold at 

 public sale about 2500 head, which generally brought good 

 prices. At the Earl of Carnavon sale one ram brought about 

 $550, and 100 yearling ewes averaged about $35 each. At 

 J. Flower's Chilmark sale and ram letting two rams were let at 

 135 guineas ($675) each, the record for the past thirty-two years, 

 with several ram lambs selling for from 34 to j6 guineas ($170 

 to $380). This was one of the memorable sales of the breed. 



